Black Wednesday (Media Environment in South Africa during Covid19)

South Africa this week marked the forty-third anniversary of Black Wednesday when the apartheid government banned nineteen Black Consciousness organisations and several anti- government newspapers such as the World and the Weekend World on the 19 October 1977. The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) says although the country is in a far better position in terms of media freedom compared to those days, the media industry still faces serious challenges including journalists being harassed by police and communities when covering protests.We speak to: • Joe Thloloe is a veteran journalist• Mary Papaya is the South African Editors Forum’s Media Freedom Chair