South Africa‘s Media – Between Free Reporting and Political Interference

South Africa’s media landscape is highly developed, diversified, and even free. Although attempts to interfere are made again and again, freedom of opinion has never been threatened in its foundations so far. On the one hand, the media are ever ready to defend themselves, not least because of their experience under the rule of apartheid. On the other, civil society in South Africa is wide awake and sensitive to the problem. The fact that media coverage is dominated by the ruling party throws at least a shadow on the freedom of the media.