Although the Media Emergency Regulations were revoked in February, many other laws continue to restrict reporting. One of the repealed media regulations, restricting visual media reporting of 'unrest' and police action under the State of Emergency, was reinstated in the main body of emergency regulations. There are other emergency regulations which can be used to restrict reporting, as well as the Police Act and the Defence Act which control the reporting of police and military activity.
In February, a journalist Charles Leonard was assaulted by riot police while reporting on student celebrations. A few days later, journalists were turned away from a scene of 'unrest' in Tembisa in terms of the emergency regulations. The same regulations were invoked to prevent media coverage of protests against the rebel cricket tour in Alexandra and Johannesburg.
