The Government and the Press in South Africa

Event Details

Richard Steyn, editor of an English language South African newspaper called the Witness, gives a lecture on media relations with the Afrikaner government. He explains from the standpoint of his socially liberal but economically conservative independent newspaper, the press is not entirely free. Still, as the press in sub-Saharan Africa is generally never independent, comparatively the press is very outspoken and critical of the government. Information, however, is very secretive in South Africa. The press has been effective in South Africa politics and instrumental in bringing about the resignation of Prime Minister John Foster. He summarizes by explaining that South Africa is extremely complex and should not be viewed in black and white terms. It is neither a democracy nor a police state and the press, while not free, is not suppressed. During the questioning session he discusses extreme right wing splinter parties in South Africa, possible reforms in South Africa, the stability of South Africa, the removal of petty apartheid restrictions, the motivations for the government keeping the press free, constitutional reform to include Indians, black newspapers, international relations effects on South Africa, Cuban forces in Angola and South African forces in Lesotho.