May 3 is World Press Freedom Day. To help raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press the United Nations General Assembly has declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day .
The commemoration is to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to “freedom of expression” enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The day also marks the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration – a statement of the principles of a free press collated by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991.
The International Non-Government Organisation Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters without Borders) rates every country according to the level of freedom afforded its press, journalists and internet users. Each country receives a score between 0 and 100 with a higher score denoting greater restriction on the press.
Norway and Sweden are accorded the best ratings by RSF with index values of 7.63 and 8.31 respectively. The most restrictive ratings are accorded North Korea and Eritrea (88.87 and 84.24 respectively). With a rating of 20.39 South Africa has the 28th best rating in the world.
RSF rated 180 countries in 2018. South Africa’s current index reflects an improvement over the recent past. In 2013 South Africa had the 52nd freest press compared to the current 28th freest. South Africa has the third most free press in Africa after Ghana (18.41) and Namibia (20.24).
South Africa also a substantially freer press than its BRICS partners. The index value of these alliance partners range from China’s restrictive index of 78.29 (the 5th worst of the 180 countries) to Brazil’s 31.20. Brazil was the best performing alliance partner and is ranked 102nd freest. India’s index value was 43.24 and Russia’s 49.96.
The graphic below shows the relative position of South Africa’s Press Freedom.
