Work in Progress Issue no.58 - The teenagers of Tumahole

- WIP

Title
Work in Progress Issue no.58 - The teenagers of Tumahole
Creator
WIP
Subject
WIP
Date
April 1989
Type
text
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/111464
Identifier
vital:33462
Description
On January 11, South Africa's minister of home affairs and of communications, Stoffel Botha, warned Work In Progress that an examination of the publication was underway in terms of state of emergency regulations. Over a year before, Botha had warned W/P that unless it ceased 'systematic publication of subversive propaganda', he would act against it. The January 11 warning involved possible closure of W/P for up to six months, or imposing a pre-publication censor - a state official with powers to censor the contents of the publication. Over the next weeks, enormous support was expressed for W/P and its publishing policy. This came from editors of mainstream newspapers, trade unions, political organisations, religious bodies and a host of other interests and organisations. The Congress of South African Trade Unions noted that 'censorship of WIP is a direct attempt to stifle free and open debate, and to prevent the flow of information so vital to the building of democracy'. The National Union of Mineworkers said that 'every issue of W/P that does not come out will be a loss to our members', while the National Council of Trade Unions referred to the publication's 'intelligent and fearless analysis of the political, social and labour trends in our country'. From within the media world, Business Day editor Ken Owen spoke of W/P as a 'reliable, intelligent and ethically impeccable publication', while Tertius Myburgh of the Sunday Times called W/P 'an invaluable source of information which deserves to be heard by all who are interested in serious affairs in South Africa'. Representatives of foreign governments strongly condemned proposed action against W/P and other publications, and a number made direct representations to the South African government. Two weeks after Botha's warning, WIP responded to his threat of closure in a 40-page memorandum dealing with the emergency regulations in general, and the nature of the publication in particular. Botha turned down a suggestion that he meet with a delegation from the publication - and then a blanket of silence descended. By mid-February, two publications warned at the same time as W/P had been suspended for three months, and W/P began pushing Botha to respond to the representations made. Finally, on March 2, Botha's office informed WIP's publishers that no action was being contemplated in terms of the media emergency regulations. It is not for W/P to speculate on why the minister has chosen to act against some publications, and not others. The media emergency regulations involve arbitrary decisions and personal opinion. There is little point in seeking logic within arbitrariness. But it is worthwhile re-stating WIP's position on publishing: that not only do all South Africans have the right to be fully and accurately informed by a wide range of opinions, debates and analyses and reporting. In addition, freedom of speech of its nature guarantees the right of publication - and the right of readers to be exposed to diversity and contradiction. WIP has always been happy to allow readers to make their own choices on the basis of a wide range of information and views. This is the opposite of propaganda, which seeks to impose one view while suppressing others. In this battle for survival with the ministry of home affairs W/P has no doubt which side supports the publication of systematic propaganda. This edition of WIP is unavoidably late - held back until the outcome of the threatened closure had been finalised. No action is currently contemplated against the publication in terms of media emergency regulations at present - although the state still has much in its arsenal. But WIP intends surviving - and sees a long-term future for its publishing programme. One part of this future is financial stability - a crucial component of independent publishing. Ensuring financial stability, together with ever-increasing costs in paper, printing, reproduction and postage have forced W/P to raise its rates. But these increases are modest - way below rates of inflation - and in some cases are the first for over three years. The editors thank all those who supported W/P in its most-recent battle for survival - and look forward to ongoing and increasing support from the most important component of any publication: its readers.
Format
32 pages, pdf
Publisher
Work in Progress (WIP)
Language
English
Rights
Work in Progress (WIP)
Rights
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission from the publisher
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