CBS News Can Stay in S. Africa After Vowing to Obey Law

The government today reversed its expulsion order against three CBS News employees after the network pledged to obey South African laws in obtaining news footage.

Without acknowledging that it did anything unlawful, CBS said it accepted that South Africa could have had grounds to fault CBS for obtaining and airing footage of a funeral last Wednesday where cameras were banned.

“CBS News accepts that more care could have been exercised in the handling of the videotape material. CBS News expressed its regrets at any misunderstanding on its part,” a joint statement by CBS News and Home Affairs Minister J. Christoffel Botha said.

Bureau chief Bill Mutschmann, correspondent Allen Pizzey and cameraman Wim de Vos had been ordered to leave by midnight tonight.