■‘Pigeonholed’
Journalist Thabo Mabaso lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), alleging he was the victim of “racial pigeon-holing”. Mabaso, a senior reporter at the Cape Argus, based his complaint on the fact that he had been assigned a story because he could “speak the language” (Xhosa). According to Sunday Sun, Mabaso was found guilty of insubordination by his employer because he had refused to do the story in Khayelitsha.
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■Banned
The Zimbabwean government refused e.tv accreditation to cover the coming elections, the country’s state media reported. The refusal was a result of a previous “breach of media an security laws in a report on diamond smuggling”, according to Sapa-AFP/IOL. The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) condemned the ban in a statement.
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■Interested
Koni Media’s continued interest in Avusa could lead to a scramble for control of the media and entertainment group, according to Business Report. Avusa’s shareholders voted to unbundle a 34%-stake in Caxton, which is expected to be followed by the implementation of a deal by which Mvela will acquire a stake of between 25% and 30% in Avusa. The paper reported Koni, which is owned by senior government officials, “might try to come to an arrangement with Mvela to secure a combined stake of more than 50%”.
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■Talked
Vodafone is in preliminary talks with MTN to acquire a stake in the local operator’s international operations, according to Business Times. MTN confirmed Vodafone had approached it about a partnership, but Vodafone denied talks.
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■Apologised
City Press published a front-page apology to Zweli Mkhize, ANC deputy chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal,for “incorrectly (giving) the impression” that evidence in a murder trial directly implicated Mkhize. Media24, the newspaper’s owner, was ordered to pay damages of R150,000 and legal costs to Mkhize following a successful defamation claim.
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■Investigated
The police are investigating a Cape-based group of bomb-makers that allegedly used the internet to research how to make “explosive devices”, according to The Sunday Tribune. The group allegedly wanted to force the government to “give up its democratic principles”.
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■Raped
A 16-year-old from Pretoria was raped by a man she met through Mxit, Beeld reported.
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■Refused
Community station Soweto TV refused advertisements from churches that offer paid-for prayers delivered via SMS, City Press reported.
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■Nominated
Local TV series Stokvel was nominated for a Rose d’Or television award, according to The Times. The sitcom will compete with programmes such as the British series My family.
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■Voted favourite
A video of a battle between lions, a crocodile and water buffalo in the Kruger National Park was voted one of the best YouTube videos of 2007 by the video sharing network’s users (AFP/IOLtechnology.co.za).
