Media

Press release: Mendelsohn case holds grave implications for UCT’s status as SA’s premier tertiary institution

On 23 and 24 October 2025 Prof Adam Mendelsohn's review application against 2 UCT Council resolutions will be argued in the Western Cape High Court. The basis for the challenge is that the adoption of the resolutions breached the principle of legality - they were not lawful, rational, nor taken in good faith. The one resolution requires UCT academia to boycott Israeli academia, and the other rejects the IHRA definition of antisemitism over a false interpretation of one of its terms. The consequences on academic freedom, free speech and the financial security of UCT have already been compromised. The outcome of this case is truly significant.

Unfree Speech: The Highway to Hell

Mark Fredericks argues that the assault on speech in the West has been effective. It is regulated, policed and punished. All it takes is for someone to claim they have been distressed by the speech. The technological advances of recent years, the revision of the meaning of language, and the censoring of science has facilitated this dark turn. Debate is crucial.

News: Mkhwanazi asks parliament to conduct surveillance on journalists

During his testimony at the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee into his allegations about corruption in the police, Mkhwanazi called on parliament to request the surveillance of journalists and called for journalists who "get it wrong" to be jailed. Mkhwanazi must be regarded with considerable circumspection.

News - Charlie Kirk, conservative free speech activist, murdered at a public speaking event

"Charlie Kirk murder is assault on free speech… what monster thinks young dad should die because they disagree with him?" So said Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union (UK), in response to the assassination of conservative free speech activist Charlie Kirk before a crowd of +3000 at a university gathering in Utah. It is a pivotal moment for those who believe that words alone are violence and therefore warrant a violent response. FSU SA supports FSU (UK)'s condemnation of killing someone whose very purpose was to promote debate. If we can't debate society's issues openly then democracy dies.

Newell, the SABC and the cowardice of silence

An SABC presenter has been removed from the broadcasting schedule at the SABC for challenging Mamphele Ramphele in an interview for likening the situation in Gaza to the Holocaust. The presenter's job was to push back Ramphele for which she was pushed out. The SABC's actions diminish the public's trust in journalism to do the job required of it. The lack of support by the journalistic community makes things much worse.

“Julius Malema, a victim of hate speech. Seriously?” − Redux

Three judges of the High Court found that Julius Malema was the victim of hate speech by Kenny Kunene. Kunene repeatedly called him a "cockroach" after Malema managed to piss him off by being crass about his party. Kunene perhaps should have known that this was likely to happen and should have kept his cool. But being found guilty of hate speech is a stretch, to say the least

IRR declines National Convention invitation, says Parliament reflects “will of the people”

On 13 August the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) sent a letter to the declined an invitation (very recently) to participate in the National Dialogue. The IRR politely declined. The reasons are to be found in the attached news item in The Daily Friend (14/8/2025).