🚀 go-pugleaf

****  ******  ******  **   **
 **   **      **       ** **
 **   *****   *****     ***        PRESS RELEASE
 **   **      **       ** **          UPDATE
****  **      ******  **   **
International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
________________________________________________________________
Date: 27 June 1996

SOUTH AFRICA: Cabinet decides to continue supporting Channel
Africa

ORIGINATOR: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

  **Updates IFEX press release dated 7 June 1996**

The South African Cabinet has passed a decision to continue
supporting Channel Africa, the external radio service of the
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) but on a "more
rationalised form." On 19 June 1996, the Cabinet decided to grant
Channel Africa a stay of execution pending an investigation into
the future of the radio station by a cabinet-appointed committee.
The cabinet's decision followed a world-wide campaign against the
closure of the station, which is estimated to have around 15
million listeners throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The committee
has been given until October to report back to Cabinet.

However, in a press release issued on 19 June, Minister of Posts,
Telecommunications and Broadcasting Jay Naidoo said: "The precise
format and financing of the external service of the SABC shall be
finalised by the committee (task force) chaired by the Deputy
President, Thabo Mbeki."

Acting Executive Editor for the radio, Flame Nieuwenhuizen, said
on 24 June that he would not say precisely what "rationalised
form" implied. "One thing might happen; Cabinet could decide to
cut down the budget by October while discussions on the future of
Channel Africa continue," he said. However, he said that he would
not be able to say what would happen in the event that the budget
is reduced. But a Channel Africa employee who asked for anonymity
stated that "the matter remains sensitive." He said that there
was still fear among journalists and other employees that "come
October, Cabinet could decide to close down Channel Africa." Said
the employee: "This celebration that the government will continue
to support Channel Africa is rather too early. Campaigning for
continuation of Channel Africa from outside should continue or we
could be surprised by the end decision."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for financing Channel
Africa had not set aside funds for the station for the 1996/97
year and had indicated in March 1996 that it would scrap the
station's funding and close down the station. Staff at Channel
Africa formed a committee to try block the station's closure by
lobbying Cabinet and mobilising support from listeners throughout
Africa. As a result, hundreds of letters from different
organisations and individuals throughout the world poured in
urging the Cabinet to withdraw its decision to close Channel
Africa.

Input from relevant bodies on the station's future can be sent at
the following e-mail address: lacuevae@sabc.co.za or
overtond@sabc.co.za and on Web site:
http://www.sabc.co.za/units/chanafr/index.html. Messages by fax
can be sent +27 11 714 2546.

For further information, contact David Lush or David Nthengwe at
MISA, Private Bag 13386, Windhoek, Namibia, tel:+264 61 232975,
fax:+264 61 248016, e-mail: dlush@ingrid.misa.org.na,
research@ingrid.misa.org.na.

The information contained in this press release update is the
sole responsibility of its originator.
*******************************************************
* IFEX CLEARING HOUSE                                 *
* 490 Adelaide St. W. #205 Toronto ONT M5V 1T2 CANADA *
* tel: 416-703-1638 fax: 416-703-7034                 *
* e-mail: ifex@web.net                                *
*******************************************************

________________________________________________________
Bruce Girard
AMARC - Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.net/amarc/pulsar.html
Tel: +(593-2) 525-521    Fax/Tel: +(593-2) 542-818
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador