Sanef

BCCSA chairperson’s report 2007 – 2008. With fourteen years of democracy behind us, an important question is whether the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) has lived up to the ideals of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Three main questions emerge: is the BCCSA an independent judicial body, is fairness a cornerstone of its procedure and its application of the Broadcasting Code, and does it protect fundamental human rights?

Continental obstacles to press freedom. Cheriff Sy, publisher, Bendré, Burkina Faso.

Contribution to Sanef panel discussion, 19 October 2005. Mary De Haas.

The World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, meeting at the 60th World Newspaper Congress and 14th World Editors Forum Conference in Cape Town in 2007, noted that in country after country in Africa, the press is crippled by repressive measures, from the jailing and persecution of journalists to the widespread scourge of “insult laws” and criminal defamation, used ruthlessly by governments to prevent critical appraisal of their performance and to deprive the public of information about their misdemeanours. This declaration is a statement by the WAN and WEF of their conviction that Africa urgently needs a strong, free press.

Sanef’s written submission on the Icasa Amendment Bill (B 32-2005), in which it recognises the timely promulgation of the Bill and supports the central objective of strengthening the regulator and creating certainty around this area of the communications environment. However, Sanef registers its strong opposition to any amendments which in any way reduce the independence of the regulator or its ability to carry out its constitutional obligations.

Media freedom. Guy Berger.

Media, freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Saber Ahmed Jazbhay.

The Online Publishers’ Association of South Africa (OPA) made representations on the Convergence Bill.

Welcome address. Eddie Funde.

Significance of this year’s conference. Jovial Rantao.