South Africa

51 million people
6,690 USD GNI (PPP)
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Free

Population and GNI data source

News & Updates

Freedom Alert

Freedom House Concerned Over Passage of Restrictive South African Media Bill

Apr 26 2013 - 4:32pm

Freedom House is deeply concerned with the passing of the Protection of State Information Bill in South Africa’s National Assembly. The passing of the Bill is indicative of an increasingly worrying trajectory on press freedom in a country once viewed as a model for democratic governance in Southern Africa.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa
Freedom Alert

South Africa to Investigate Human Rights Abuses in Zimbabwe

Feb 27 2013 - 2:42pm

On Monday, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority announced its intent to investigate President Robert Mugabe’s political party Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) for crimes against humanity, following allegations of a campaign of mass rape during the months around Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections. Freedom House commends South Africa’s demonstration of its human rights obligations in this decision and hopes that the investigation will dissuade further use of violence as a strategy in its upcoming elections.

Issues: 
Elections, Rule of Law, Women's Rights
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa
In the News

A second-term democracy agenda

Nov 30 2012 - 1:43pm



David J. Kramer and Arch Puddington outline what President Obama's democracy agenda should be in his second term in the following Washington Post op-ed.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Human Rights Defense, U.S. Foreign Policy
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
Press Release

South Africa: Secrecy Bill Puts Free Expression at Risk

Sep 20 2012 - 4:03pm

The International Partnership on Freedom of Expression in South Africa, a delegation of regional and international rights groups, raised their opposition to a proposed secrecy bill and threats of state regulation of the press during a joint mission to South Africa from Sept. 8-14. The Partnership met with stakeholders from the media industry, the ANC and opposition parties, and civil society to discuss the proposed Protection of State Information Bill and media regulation developments.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Experts

Karin Deutsch Karlekar

Project Director of "Freedom of the Press"


Issues: 
Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa

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Freedom of Expression Mission to South Africa

In September 2012, Freedom House led an International Freedom of Expression Mission to South Africa in order to address ongoing concerns about the passage of the repressive Protection of State Information Bill and the implementation of a government-controlled Media Appeals Tribunal. T

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa