Media fraternity marks 49 years of Black Wednesday
The media fraternity in South Africa is today marking 49 years since the infamous Black Wednesday, a day that serves as a stark reminder of the apartheid regime’s attempt to silence independent voices.
On 19 October 1977, the apartheid government banned several publications, including The World and Weekend World, and detained numerous journalists and activists in a bid to suppress reporting on the brutality of the state.
Today marks 49 years since Black Wednesday on 19 October 1977, when the then apartheid regime banned anti-apartheid publications.
The day is now commemorated annually as National Press Freedom Day, serving as an opportunity for the country to reflect on the importance of media freedom and the ongoing struggle to protect the rights of journalists to hold power to account.