Campaign for Free Expression is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organisation which defends and enables freedom of expression for all in Southern Africa
South Africa
Joined August 2021
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Today marks 49 years since #BlackWednesday, when the apartheid government intensified its crackdown on South African media.🧵
On Black Wednesday, amaBhungane is once again challenging attempts to keep court proceedings out of public view.
Together with Media24, Daily Maverick and the Campaign for Free Expression, we've launched an urgent court application challenging the exclusion of journalists and the public from the trial of former State Security Agency officials Thulani “Silence” Dlomo and Patrick Mshothola.
The two are facing charges relating to the alleged misappropriation of R12-million in state intelligence funds.
Following a court order last week, proceedings have been conducted behind closed doors.
We argue that the order does not justify a blanket exclusion of the media and public.
We're asking the court to ensure that the trial is open, with any restrictions on genuinely sensitive evidence properly motivated and considered individually.
The timing is particularly significant.
On 19 October 1977, the apartheid government banned The World and Weekend World newspapers, detained editor Percy Qoboza and his deputy, Aggrey Klaaste, and outlawed Black Consciousness organisations. The crackdown came just weeks after Steve Biko died in police custody.
The day became known as Black Wednesday. The apartheid government wanted to silence its opponents and stop journalists from exposing its abuses.
Forty-nine years later, South Africa has constitutional protections for press freedom and open justice. Yet here we are, on Black Wednesday, going to court to challenge the exclusion of journalists and the public from a trial involving alleged wrongdoing by state intelligence officials.
The trial is a matter of significant public interest.
The urgent application is due to be argued today.
Read more: news24.com/investigations/un…
#MediaFreedomDay #BlackWednesday
Campaign For Free Expression retweeted
Our webinar tomorrow @2.30pmCAT aims to identify legal threats facing the media. It will explore legal responses & opportunities for collaboration.
Join Zoom Meeting
us06web.zoom.us/j/8765808959…?…
Meeting chat link
us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/87……
Meeting ID: 876 5808 9595
Passcode: 261655
[MEDIA STATEMENT] CFE, together with media applicants – Media 24, @amaBhungane, and @dailymaverick – challenge secret trial of senior SSA officials.
freeexpression.org.za/media-…
[WATCH] “We have to look at our institutional capacity,” said CFE Executive Director Nicole Fritz, reflecting on how South Africa could draw lessons from the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Click the link to read the full Study: freeexpression.org.za/wp-con…
#CFEAtMFF2026 #MFF2026
[WATCH] Hendrik Sittig, Director of the @KAS_SouthAfrica Media Programme Sub-Saharan Africa, reflects on the research paper released by KAS and CFE, titled “A South African Legal Framework to Govern Online Harm: What Might We Learn from the EU’s Digital Services Act?”
#MFF2026
[WATCH] CFE Executive Director Nicole Fritz reflects on the research study she co-authored with Justine Limpitlaw, titled “A South African Legal Framework to Govern Online Harm: What Might We Learn from the EU’s Digital Services Act?”
Read the full Study: freeexpression.org.za/wp-con…
@SollyMalatsi Disinformation can spread like wildfire. We seeing it about foreign nationals that is driving instability. We need to know if trust can catch up. But fact checking doesn’t travel as fast @moxiiafrica @GermanyInsa @goethejoburg #MFF2026 @mediau @_FreeExpression
We are opening the last day of this year’s MFF with a keynote from Minister @SollyMalatsi who is talking to us about information integrity ahead of #LGE2026 in just 3 weeks and answering an important question: what is government doing to protect information integrity ahead of elections?
Watch here: youtube.com/live/b0WWBwDz8aI…
[HAPPENING TODAY] The final day of the #MFF2026 features the Reporter Slam South Africa, taking place this evening at @WitsUniversity. Top SA journalists will share the personal stories behind their reporting, including @Moloi_Herman1, @pontsho_pilane, and @motso_modise.
#MFF2026
[NEW RESEARCH STUDY] The study examines how SA could strengthen online platform accountability while safeguarding freedom of expression.
The report was co-authored by CFE Executive Director Nicole Fritz and Consultant Justine Limpitlaw.
Full study here: freeexpression.org.za/wp-con…
[PICTURES] CFE Executive Director Nicole Fritz at #MFF2026, where a research paper she co-authored with Justine Limpitlaw was launched.
The research paper is titled “A South African Legal Framework to Govern Online Harm: What Might We Learn from the EU’s Digital Services Act?.”
The report explores what South Africa can learn from the EU’s Digital Services Act to address online harm while protecting freedom of expression.
Read the full statement here: freeexpression.org.za/wp-con…
[MEDIA STATEMENT] CFE and KAS Media Programme Sub-Saharan Africa have released a report titled: “A South African Legal Framework to Govern Online Harm: What Might We Learn from the EU’s Digital Services Act?.”
Nicole and Justine have co-authored a research report titled "A South African Legal Framework to Govern Online Harm: What Might We Learn from the EU’s Digital Services Act?"
The report will be launched this morning at #MFF2026 at the @goethejoburg in Johannesburg.
[0P-ED] "A Digital Services Act-style framework could establish legally prescribed notice-and-action procedures for illegal content, with minimum requirements governing how notices are received and considered," write Nicole Fritz and Justine Limpitlaw.
businessday.co.za/lifestyle/…
The arguments here are about nuance and promote understanding of a complex issue. It’s Jsut great! @motso_modise @BenWinks @moxiiafrica @goethejoburg #mff2026 @_FreeExpression @SAEditorsForum
The more prevalent the hate the more tolerant we seem to be. Says @BenWinks @motso_modise @moxiiafrica #mff2026 @_FreeExpression @goethejoburg
[IN PICTURES] Here are some of the people who visited the CFE stall at #MFF2026 and wrote messages of solidarity in support of freedom of expression. Remember, we’ll be here throughout the festival, so come take a picture and write your own message.
#CFEAtMFF2026
Our afternoon sessions are kicking off !
Check out Dr Christopher Nehring and his Masterclass workshop: More than just deep fakes in the main hall.
And in Classroom 1 we have the @Refugees workshop on: The language of displacement, migration, othering and harm.
#MFF2026 #MediaFreedomFestival2026 @GermanyinSA