15 September 2010
1pm – 6pm
Chalsty Centre, Wits University, West Campus
Is South Africa facing the spectre of censorship and media repression?
Focus of the colloquium
On 23 August 2010, Wits and the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism hosted an evening panel discussion to define urgent questions around the ANC’s proposed Media Appeals Tribunal. The Faculty of Humanities invites you to a fuller, follow-up event which will develop the debate about freedom of expression in the media, but also in other realms of communication and publication, in South Africa. The colloquium will focus on a range of relevant proposed legal developments, including the Public Service Broadcasting Bill, ICASA Amendment Bill, Protection of Information Bill and the ANC’s proposed Media Appeals Tribunal (MAT), all of which have implications for freedom of expression, media freedom, and independent regulation of the media. In 10minute presentations, speakers will ask the question whether South Africa is approaching a new era of censorship, media repression and government control of the media which will undermine democratic freedoms as well as the transparency and accountability of the state to its citizens.
Themes/Issues
The colloquium will among other things focus on the following themes or issues:
- Self regulation versus statutory regulation versus independent regulation
- National versus public interest
- State versus public service broadcasting
- Freedom of expression
- Freedom of the media and media independence
- Academic freedom and research
- Editorial and programming independence
- Censorship
- Access to information
- Public Service Broadcasting Bill
- ICASA Amendment Bill
- Protection of Information Bill
- Proposed Media Appeals Tribunal
- National Key Points Act
Format
10 minute presentations on a theme and questions/comments
Presenters
A range of presenters including academics, editors, journalists, lawyers and media activists working on freedom of expression and media freedom to address a specific theme/issue will make presentations on the themes and legislation identified above.
Proposed Presenters
Journalists and Editors (current and former)
- Mr Joe Thloloe - Press Council and Ombudsman - Confirmed
- Professor Gavin Stewart - South African National Editor’s Forum - TBC
- Ms Ferial Haffajee - Media Appeals Tribunal - will attend
Academics
- Professor Anton Harber - Media Appeals Tribunal - confirmed
- Professor Franz Kruger - Showers, the Nellie, brown envelopes, leaks and the ethics of being a battleground.
- Dr Sarah Chiumbu - The Case of Zimbabwe - confirmed
- Dr Last Moyo - The Case of Zimbabwe - confirmed
- Professor Jane Duncan - ANC’s Media Policy and Media Freedom - confirmed
- Professor Iain Currie - Protection of Information Bill - confirmed
- Professor Anthony Butler - Academic research & media freedom - confirmed
- Professor Daryl Glaser - Protection of Information Bill & Democracy - confirmed
- Professor Jonathan Klaaren - Protection of Information Bill - confirmed
Media Freedom Organisations
- Ms. Kate Skinner - Public Service Broadcasting Bill - confirmed
- Ms. Ayesha Kajee - Threats to Freedom of Expression - confirmed
- Mr. William Bird - Public Service Broadcasting Bill - confirmed
- Ms. Prinola Govenden - ICASA Amendment Bill - confirmed
Media Lawyers
- Professor Dario Milo - Constitutional Implications - confirmed
- Ms Pamela Stein - Constitutional Implications - confirmed
- Gilbert Marcus - will attend
- Mr Glen Penfold - will attend
Programme
Moderator: Professor Tawana Kupe
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Wits University
| Time | Topic/Issue | Presenter |
| 1300 - 1305 | Welcome | Prof Tawana Kupe - Chair |
| 1305 - 1315 | Public Service Bill | Ms Kate Skinner - SOS |
| 1315 - 1325 | Public Service Bill | William Bird - MMA |
| 1325 - 1335 | ICASA Amendment Bill | Ms Prinola Govenden - MMA |
| 1335 - 1400 | Questions & Comments | Participants |
| 1400 - 1410 | Media Appeals Tribunal | Prof Gavin Stewart - SANEF |
| 1410 - 1420 | Media Appeals Tribunal | Mr. Joe Thloloe - Ombudsman |
| 1420 - 1430 | Showers, the Nellie, brown envelopes, leaks and the ethics of being a battleground. | Prof. Franz Kruger - Wits |
| 1430 -1440 | Media Appeals Tribunal | Prof Anton Harber Wits |
| 1440 - 1500 | Questions & Comments | Participants |
| 1500 - 1510 | Protection of Information Bill | Prof Jonathan Klaaren - Wits |
| 1510 - 1520 | Protection of Information Bill | Bill Prof. Iain Currie - Wits |
| 1520 - 1530 | Relationship between Academic research and media freedom | Prof. Anthony Butler - Wits |
| 1530 - 1540 | Protection of Info Bill & Democracy | Prof Daryl Glaser |
| 1540 -1600 | Questions & Comments | Participants |
| 1600 - 1615 | TEA | Participants |
| 1615 -1625 | Threats to Freedom of Expression | Ms Ayesha Kajee - FXI |
| 1625 -1635 | Shifts in ANC Media Policy | Prof Jane Duncan – Rhodes |
| 1635 -1645 | Constitutional Implications | Prof Dario Milo - Wits |
| 1645 -1655 | Constitutional Implications | Pamela Stein – Webber Wentzel |
| 1655 -1735 | Questions and Comments | Participants |
| 1735- 1745 | The Zimbabwe Case | Drs Last Moyo & Sarah Chiumbu |
| 1745 - 1800 | Concluding Discussion | Participants |
