Decision on Wa-Afrika case a victory for the media: Sanef

2010-09-07 6:50:00 PM

The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has described the move by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to provisionally withdraw charges against Sunday Times journalist, Mzilikazi Wa-Afrika, as a victory for the media fraternity.'

Wa-Afrika was arrested early last month for allegedly being in possession of an alleged fraudulent letter of resignation from Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza to President Jacob Zuma.

The NPA announced today that it had withdrawn the charges against Wa-Afrika pending further investigation. Sanef Deputy Chair of Media Freedom Committee, Raymond Louw, says the decision is evidence that the NPA had no case against Wa-Afrika.'

Also responding to the decision to drop the charges, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille says she will ask the police watchdog, the Independent Complaints Directorate, to probe the arrest of Wa-Afrika.'

The journalist was arrested shortly after he wrote about a R500 million police headquarters lease agreement, purportedly agreed to by Police Chief General Cele without it going to tender. His arrest was criticised as an attempt to silence journalists.

Zille's spokesperson, Priya Reddy, says there is a need to get to the bottom of Wa-Afrika's arrest.' Zille' s sentiments have been echoed by Professor of Journalism at Wits University, Professor Anton Harber, who maintains that the action against Wa-Afrika had political motive.'