His Excellency Mr. F. W. de Klerk
State President
Office of the State President
Pretoria 0001
South Africa

Vienna, 6 August 1993

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), representing over 2000 journalists and editors from leading newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organizations and news agencies in 68 countries, protests most strongly at the conviction on 3 August 1993 of Mr. Andries Cornelissen, a reporter for the daily, Beeld.

Mr. Cornelissen was issued a subpoena under Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act to elaborate on his knowledge of ANC youth leader Peter Mokaba’s alleged use of the “Kill the Boer” slogan. We are informed that the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court sentenced Mr. Cornelissen to one year in prison for failing to testify against the youth leader.

IPI is gravely concerned that, although censorship and restrictions in South Africa have been relaxed during the past year, restrictive laws such as Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act are still being employed in court cases. We believe that these laws constitute a serious threat to press freedom and democracy in South Africa.

IPI strongly urges that Mr. Cornelissen’s conviction be rescinded immediately and that the country’s press be allowed to work without obstruction.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director

CC: His Excellency Mr. Hendrik J. Coetsee
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Pretoria 0001
South Africa