The government imposed a virtual ban on reporting of protests and police and army actions in the 38 areas under the State of Emergency. The new regulations came a week after the extension of the Emergency to Cape Town and the banning of journalists from Soweto.
The new regulations, published on 2 November, made it an offence to record, reproduce, publish, broadcast, distribute or send anywhere in or outside the country, without permission from the Commissioner of the Police, any films, sound recordings, photographs, drawing or other representations of 'any public disturbance, disorder, riot, public violence, strike or boycott', or damaging of property or any assault on or killing of a person. In addition, reporting in this way of people present at or involved in any such situation, or the actions of a Force or a member of a Force (which includes the police, railway police, SADF and prisons service) 'with regard to the maintenance of the safety of the public or the public order or for the termination of the state of emergency' is illegal. It is also illegal to cause such reports to be made or distributed.
Newspaper 'print reporters' seeking to cover these events have to prove they are accredited – by the police force, the Department of Foreign Affairs or the government's Bureau of Information – or that they work for a publication affiliated to the Newspaper Press Union. They must then be accompanied by a police escort.
ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS Prior to this overall clampdown, police acted to prevent reporting of numerous incidents of protest and police and army repression, both in and outside the Emergency areas, and a number of foreign and local journalists were arrested or assaulted.
Since the eve of a planned march in August from Cape Town to Pollsmoor Prison in support of Nelson Mandela, journalists have been repeatedly barred from entering parts of Cape Town. Altogether 16 journalists in the area were reported to have been held for questioning during September and October.
In addition, nine journalists — a Cape Times employee and eight correspondents for foreign media companies — arrested while covering police actions against student protesters in Cape Town, were charged with obstructing the police. Charges were withdrawn on 30 August following a court appearance. Another eight journalists — two South Africans and six foreign television newspeople — appeared twice in court after being arrested at a student meeting at the University of the Western Cape. No charges were put to them and their case was postponed until December. One of them, Bernard BISSON, a French reporter, was in the meantime deported.
During September and October five journalists working in Cape Town suffered serious injuries from police actions against them.
In the Transvaal, the Soweto Divisional Commissioner of Police announced on 26 October an indefinite ban under Emergency Regulations on journalists entering Soweto. Several days later four Sowetan reporters were picked up by police in Soweto at night, beaten and driven around in armoured vehicles for several hours before being released.
In the Eastern Cape, a television camera-man, Rapitse MONTSHO, was convicted twice, in September and October, on charges relating to the ban on non-residents in certain townships under the Emergency. He was sentenced in the second trial to 50 days in jail or a R200 fine.
In September a correspondent for the United States magazine Newsweek, Ray WILKINSON, was deported from South Africa following the publication of an article on protests in South Africa in the September issue, which was subsequently banned.
EDITOR CHARGED The editor of the Cape Times newspaper, Tony HEARD, was charged under Section 56 of the Internal Security Act in the Cape Town Magistrates' Court on 8 November after publishing a lengthy interview he had conducted with the president of the ANC, Oliver TAMBO. Tambo may not be quoted in South Africa, as he is restricted in terms of Section 23(1) of the Internal Security Act. Heard was served with a subpoena before his arrest, compelling him to hand over a tape recording of the interview. He faces a maximum of three years' jail, without the option of a fine. The case was postponed until 9 December.
