REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS
and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA
mean that there should be no censorship. No unreasonable restraint should be placed on
the press as to what they should publish.”120
190.
191.
Freedom of the media may be restricted in certain circumstances. In the case of South
African Broadcasting Corporation Limited (SABC) v The National Director of Public
Prosecutions121 the issue was whether Constitutional Court should intervene to require
the Supreme Court of Appeal to permit the national broadcasting corporation to
broadcast on radio and television proceedings before the Supreme Court of Appeal. In a
unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court of Appeal took the view that the “applicant’s
right to freedom of expression and to impart information, and the public’s right to receive
such information, collide four square with the respondents’ respective rights.” It noted
that because of the power given to it by section 173 to regulate its own processes, it had
to do so by considering how best to accommodate the competing rights of the parties.
The Court held that a balancing exercise was required between the right of the applicant
to freedom of expression and the right of the respondents to a fair trial.122 The Supreme
Court of Appeal held that television and radio broadcasts would violate fair trial rights.123
The Constitutional Court held that it could not be said that the Supreme Court of Appeal
reached its decision other than judicially. No basis has been established for intervening
in the exercise by the Supreme Court of Appeal of its discretion to regulate its own
process and to ensure that the arrangements within its own court room do not interfere
with the administration of justice.124
In addition to the cases mentioned above, there are a number of cases which further
illustrate the rights of information and expression.125
Articles 10 and 11: Freedom of association and freedom of assembly
192.
The rights to association and assembly find expression in sections 17 and 18 of the
Constitution, respectively.126
193.
In terms of the Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993127 extensive space was provided for
individuals and groups to hold public gatherings during the period under review. The
purpose of the Act is to regulate the holding of public gatherings and demonstrations. A
120
Para 35
[2008] ZACC 6
122
Para 10
123
Para 12
124
Para 67
125
Brümmer v Minister for Social Development and Others 2009 (6) SA 323 (CC); Minister for Provincial and Local
Government v Unrecognised Traditional Leaders, Limpopo Province (Sekhukhuneland) 2005 (2) SA 110 (SCA);
President of the Republic of South Africa and Others v M & G Media LTD 2012 (2) SA 50 (CC)
126
S 17 “Everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present
petitions.”
S 18 “Everyone has the right to freedom of association.”
127
Act No. 205 of 1993
121
57