On several occasions during the early months of 1983 the South African government used its powers to restrict information and to act against journalists. Still more restrictions on information were reported to be under consideration.
EDITORS FINED FOR SEYCHELLES REPORTS
The editors and a senior reporter from two South African newspapers, the Rand Daily Mail and the Sunday Times, and the newspaper company employing them, South African Associated Newspapers, were fined a total of R3,600 under the Official Secrets Act for reports published in April 1982 concerning the alleged involvement of the National Intelligence Service in the attempted Seychelles coup of November 1981. The trial was held in secret and reporting of all details except for the verdict and sentence was forbidden.
All the fines were suspended for five years on condition that the offenders did not commit any further breach of the new Protection of Information Act, the Act replacing the Official Secrets Act. Although conviction under the Protection of Information Act, as originally intended, was not possible, since the offences were committed prior to its enactment, the case is an indication of how the new Act could in future be interpreted to control and restrict reporting of 'security' matters.
The Minister of Justice announced in March that the Afrikaans newspaper, Rapport, was to be prosecuted under the same legislation for similar reports.
JOURNALISTS HARASSED
Security Police raided both the home and office of Allister SPARKS, the South African correspondent of the Washington Post and the London Observer, in March. They were purportedly in search of evidence of reports that Sparks had sent overseas last year, in which a banned person, Winnie Mandela, was quoted. It is a matter of legal dispute, however, whether the prohibition on the quoting of banned persons in South Africa applies to journalists filing for overseas newspapers. Briefcases full of files were confiscated from Sparks' office including messages for the Washington Post and the Observer concerning SWAPO activities in Namibia. Later Sparks was required by the security police to sign statements that he was suspected of contravening the Police Act and Internal Security Act.
During the raid on Sparks' office another journalist, Bernard SIMON, a correspondent for the Financial Times and the Economist, was taken to security police headquarters and charged with defeating the ends of justice by removing documents from Sparks' office before the raid. He was later freed on bail and the case was postponed until 25 March.
Earlier this year security police searched the home in New Brighton of a journalist on the Evening Post, Jimmy MATYU, and confiscated books and other documents. Security police also visited the home of the Eastern Province Herald's court reporter, Mncedisa SALISO.
VISA DENIAL
The government denied a visa to the new director of Radio Free Berlin, Joachim BRAUN, last December, preventing him from bringing a television team into the country. No reason was given for the restriction.
RESTRICTIONS ON REPORTING
The possibility of restrictions being placed on the issues that MPs may discuss in Parliament was raised this February following a speech by an Opposition MP concerning South Africa's role in the Salem oil-tanker scandal. The government attempted to impose a news blackout on the speech, which contained details of government funds used to buy stolen oil from fraudulent international agents. After two newspapers defied the ban the Energy Minister amended the proposed blackout to a cautionary appeal.
Publication of information about oil purchases and supplies is prohibited under the Petroleum Products Amendment Act but under the Powers and Privileges of Parliament Act, MPs have absolute freedom of speech. It was reported that this situation was to be reviewed by the government.
