South Africa / Africa

  
Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, speaks during a media briefing at Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 12, 2018. The Johannesburg High Court ruled on June 6, 2019, that Malema and the EFF violated the Electoral Act by doxxing Karima Brown in March. (Reuters/Sumaya Hisham)

South African court rules Malema, EFF violated Electoral Code of Conduct in Karima Brown doxxing incident

Johannesburg, June 6, 2019–The Johannesburg High Court ruled today that opposition politician Julius Malema and his political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, had breached the country’s Electoral Code of Conduct by doxxing veteran journalist Karima Brown, according to a copy of the judgment seen by the Committee to Protect Journalists and news reports.

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Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) speak to the press in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 15, 2018. EFF leader Julius Malema doxxed prominent South African journalist Karima Brown on March 5, 2019, and she was later threatened, allegedly by party supporters. (AP Photo/Nasief Manie)

South African journalist doxxed by Economic Freedom Fighters leader, threatened

Washington, D.C., March 8, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed grave concern about threats and harassment against veteran South African journalist Karima Brown–allegedly by supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)–after her phone number was published on Twitter by EFF leader Julius Malema. CPJ also called for the Electoral Commission of South Africa to…

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Art:Jack Forbes

South Africa elections 2019: Journalist safety kit

South Africa, one of the media freedom beacons in sub-Saharan Africa, will hold national and provincial elections on May 8. As the country celebrates 25 years of democracy, the press in South Africa faces old and new challenges, including physical harassment and cyber bullying. The press freedom environment, including the safety of journalists, will be…

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Venus symbols are seen during an event where UN Women and rights groups launched a campaign against violence towards women as International Women's Day approaches, in Mexico City, Mexico in March 2018. CPJ has documented threats faced by women journalists across the globe. (Reuters/Henry Romero)

On International Women’s Day, CPJ looks at threats women journalists face

From imprisonment, sexual violence, cyber harassment, and even death, CPJ has documented threats faced by women journalists across the globe.

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Lawyers leave the Johannesburg High Court in this March 2015 file photograph. (Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)

South African court orders group to cease harassing journalists

New York, July 7, 2017–A Johannesburg High Court order forbidding a political organization from gathering outside the home of journalists who have reported on corruption, threatening them, or inciting others to harm them is a welcome victory for press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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CPJ calls for release of kidnapped South African journalist Shiraaz Mohamed

New York, January 17, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for the immediate release of Shiraaz Mohamed, a South African freelance journalist who was kidnapped in Syria last week while documenting the humanitarian relief effort in northern Syria.

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Locals try to gain access to a shop during protests in Atteridgeville, a township west of Pretoria, on June 21. Several reporters were attacked covering protests and looting this week. (Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)

South African reporters attacked covering protests, broadcaster suspends journalists

New York, June 24, 2014 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by media reports that South Africa’s public broadcaster suspended three journalists for opposing an editorial decision not to cover a protest. CPJ also calls for credible investigations into reports that police assaulted journalists covering unrest.

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Journalists released from prison, CPJ launches SecureDrop–and we throw a party!

CPJ Newsletter: June edition Khadija Ismayilova thanks CPJ, says she will fight for her cause Khadija’s first photo after jail pic.twitter.com/sj358k5WdU — Khadija Ismayilova (@Khadija_Ismayil) May 25, 2016 CPJ Europe and Central Asia Senior Research Associate Muzaffar Suleymanov spoke to investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova a few hours after her release from prison on May 25.

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CPJ urges South Africa to revise cybercrime bill that limits press freedom

New York, December 10, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the South African government to revise provisions in the proposed Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill that would limit journalists’ ability to work. Under the bill, journalists and members of the public could be prosecuted for possessing or disclosing state information, reports said.

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Journalist attacked after covering protest in South Africa

Luvuyo Mehlwana, a reporter for the Daily Sun, one of the highest-circulated daily newspapers in South Africa, told CPJ he was kicked and beaten after covering a protest in the Northern Areas of the coastal city of Port Elizabeth on July 27, 2015.

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