Editor Sentenced for Printing Opinions of Banned Figure
The editor of an Afrikaans language newspapar was given a suspended jail term Wednesday for printing the opinions of a leading figure in the outlawed African National Congress.
The court convicted Max du Preez, 37, editor of Vrye Weekblad (Free Weekly), under the Internal Security Act for publishing comments by Joe Slovo, general secretary of the South African Communist Party and executive member of the ANC.
‘Listed Person’
Slovo is a “listed” person who may not be legally quoted in the South African press. Du Preez received a six-month suspended sentence, and his newspaper was fined $360, also suspended, by the magistrate court judge in Johannesburg.
The charge arose from the reporting of a meeting in West Germany between the ANC and leading South African liberals, including several Afrikaners, the Dutch-descended people who make up the majority of South Africa’s white population.
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