NEWSWATCH: Despite Sunday newspaper claims to the contrary, the SABC has flatly denied that there is any ban on any coverage of former president Thabo Mbeki, reports IOL, which also reports that Simon Wright, the British tabloid journalist at the centre of a 2010 security breach, is considering suing National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele for comments the latter made about Wright. Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, meanwhile, has declared Wright an "undesirable person", reports Mail & Guardian.
For more:
IOL: SABC denies Mbeki claims... The national broadcaster yesterday refuted "with contempt" claims that coverage by the broadcaster's TV and radio services of former president Thabo Mbeki had been banned. Of course, back in 2006 and thereabouts, the SABC also denied blacklisting certain commentators - but there was such a blacklist. Here's hoping that this time the left hand actually does know what the right hand is doing and there indeed isn't any ban, as has been claimed.
IOL: Wright considering civil action against Cele... Even chiefs of police need to be aware that saying certain things about people accused of an offence, but before they have appeared in court, may prove risky - and a little costly.
Mail & Guardian: UK reporter ordered to leave SA... In what many believe to be a serious case of overkill, Simon Wright, who interviewed an English fan who showed up a gap or two in security measures around the World Cup, paid a R750 admission-of-guilt fine and was then promptly ordered to leave SA.
