Press curb 'to go’

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 9

Press curb 'to go’

NZPA-Reuter Cape Town ’ The South African Gov-1 eminent is to drop press! curbs aimed to prevent the reporting of State corruption and maladministration, the Prime Minister (Mr Pieter Botha) has said. Speaking in Parliament, Mr Botha said clauses in a bill forbidding newspapers to publish reports on maladministration without the permission of the advocate-gen-eral had been shelved after recommendations by a Parliamentary select committed and consultation with press representatives. Protests over the planned legislation have linked normally pro-Government Afrikaans newspapers with the I i ber a 1 English-language press. I'hey argued that if it became law the bill could prevent. exposure of such scandals as the Information Department affair, which was brought into the open by newspaper campaigns The National Party Government maintains the bill merely aimed to ensure a clean administration. ■ Mr Both.a .said the, amendment to the bill proved ’it was never intended as -a press gag. ! The change in the bill left it as establishing the post of’ advocate-general to examine! allegations of corruption! while not empowering him' to control newspaper publi-j cation of the claims, as orig-; inally planned.