Police threats against reporters condemned

The threat of police action against South African investigative journalist Jocelyn Maker and editor Mondli Makhanya of the Sunday Times raises the question whether South Africa is losing its status as a country offering the safeguards and conditions that allow for quality independent investigative reporting.

Makhanya and Maker reportedly face charges related to the 'theft of documents' and contravening privacy provisions in the National Health Act. They would have done the latter by reporting on the South African health ministers' conduct during a hospital stay in 2005. The Sunday Times reported that Minister Manto-Tshabalala-Msimang threw drunken tantrums during a 2005 stay in hospital; sent staff to buy her alcohol; and abused nurses.