Date: 05 May 2026

Time: 14:00 – 17:00

14:00-14:15 – Opening remarks
Thandi Smith, Nicole Fritz
Contextualising the WPFD celebrations in light of the Zambian government’s suppression of
RightsCon and general regional suppression of free speech and media freedom.

14:15- 14:45 – Session 1: Gagging Free Speech – Attacks on media and journalists in
South Africa
Facilitator Nicole Fritz – Campaign for Freedom of Expression

Speakers:
● Jillian Green – Editor Daily Maverick
● Khadija Patel – Media Executive
● Kuhle Mavuso – Senior Associate Webber Wentzel

Gagging orders are being used to prevent the media from reporting on issues that are of public
interest.

14:45 – 15:00 Q&A
15:00-15:30 – Session 2: Weaponising the law and acting against SLAPP’s
Facilitator Thandi Smith – Moxii Africa

Speakers:
● Tina Power – Director, Alt Advisory
● Elizabeth Onyango – Head of Africa Hub, Thomson Reuters Foundation
● Marystella Simiyu – Africa Senior Legal Advocacy Officer; International Press Institute
● (Moxii Africa – slappback site demo)

Legal threats undermining media freedom by drawing on case studies from Kenya and South
Africa. Speakers will give an overview on how legal systems and frameworks in Kenya and
South Africa are increasingly weaponised to restrict journalism and will present key insights from
TRF’s “Weaponising the Law: Threats to Media Freedom in Kenya” report and the forthcoming
South Africa-focused report, “Weaponising the Law: Threats to Media Freedom in South Africa”
the session will also look at a draft Resolution on Countering Strategic Litigation Against Public
Participation (SLAPP) in Africa and the Development of an Anti-SLAPP Model Law for
consideration by the African Commission under the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.

15:30 – 15:45 Q&A
15:45 -16:15 Session 3: Quick Fire Voices for Media Freedom

Speakers: Each speaker speaks for no more than 4 minutes 30 seconds. Timed. Allows a range
of diverse views and voices to be shared.
Time Keeper: George Kalu
● CFE – TBC
● CODE – TBC
● Moxii Africa – William Bird
● SANEF – Izak Minnaar
● Press Council – Tsile Maswanganyi
● TAEF – Sbu Ngalwa (Online)
● IMS – Rashweat Mukundu

16:15 – 16:35 Session 4: Open Letter for the Protection of Free Expression or Open Letter
Against Censorship
Speakers: CODE Kavisha Pillay
Read the open letter and share QR code to where people can sign the open letter

16:35-17:00 – Q&A

17:00-17:05 – Closing remarks