Black Wednesday, 49 years on: government says journalists must work without threats
The GCIS marked National Press Freedom Day by honouring the reporters and editors banned and detained in 1977 and by committing to closer engagement with the media in the run-up to elections.
Government has paid tribute to the journalists, editors, publishers and media workers who stood against apartheid, as South Africa marks Black Wednesday, also known as National Press Freedom Day.
On 19 October 1977 the apartheid regime banned publications including The World and Weekend World and detained journalists, among them The World editor Percy Qoboza, in an attempt to silence independent voices exposing the injustices of apartheid.
“Their courage and unwavering commitment to truth contributed to the struggle for freedom, justice and democracy. Their legacy underscores the vital role of media freedom in an open and accountable society, a principle enshrined in the Constitution,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said in a statement on Monday.
The statement, carried by SAnews (South African Government News Agency), says the commemoration reaffirms the importance of protecting the hard-won freedoms of all South Africans.
“Protecting press freedom requires respect for constitutional rights and a collective commitment to an informed citizenry. This includes ensuring that journalists can carry out their work without intimidation, threats, harassment or violence,” the GCIS said.
Government said it remains committed to strengthening engagement with the media fraternity and to promoting transparent, accessible and accountable communication with the public.
With the country entering an electioneering period, the GCIS said a free and independent media is vital to the democratic process, and that citizens must have access to accurate, timely and accessible information to make informed choices about the country’s future.
The statement also acknowledges the challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation and the rapid spread of unverified claims on social media, and encourages citizens to seek information from credible media houses.
This report is drawn from the GCIS statement as published by SAnews (South African Government News Agency), which is a summary of government’s position rather than the full record of the day’s events. The original can be read at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-pays-tribute-media-fraternity.
