Although President de Klerk said in November that regulations affecting the media emergency regulations might be lifted, harassment of journalists and restrictions on the press continued.
Action against the New Nation under the emergency censorship procedure showed the regime's continued readiness to use this even if less frequently than before. Moreover, the period was marked by the vigorous use of other methods of censorship: prosecutions of editors and owners of papers; harassment of editors under the Criminal Procedure Act and police intimidation of journalists.
On 2 November the New Nation was warned under the emergency regulations about 32 items alleged to be 'subversive'. The paper was still under threat of closure in January but no further steps had been taken against it.
Between September and December last year two editors were charged, and a further six were placed under investigation in terms of the emergency regulations for publishing 'subversive statements'. A trial of the editor of Vrye Weekblad for reports allegedly undermining military conscription was postponed until February. Charges against New Africa in November arose from coverage of protests in June 1989. Papers under investigation were the Cape Times, Star, Argus, Daily News, Sunday Tribune and Natal Mercury. Other cases against the editors (or former editors) and journalists of City Press, Weekly Mail and South were withdrawn.
In December the editors of the Weekly Mail, the Sowetan and the assistant editor of the Star, had charges under the Internal Security Act for quoting 'listed' persons withdrawn. Joe LATAKGOMO was charged in November in his former capacity as editor of the Sowetan for quoting Albie Sachs, a prominent ANC member. A case against the New Nation under this Act was postponed until February and in November New Africa was charged for quoting the ANC president Oliver Tambo.
In November New Africa was charged under the Prisons Act for publishing Nelson Mandela's photograph. A Saam-staan organiser was acquitted of the same charge in December.
The authorities used the Criminal Procedure Act to force journalists to give information in court.
