Pretoria Orders Expulsion of Three CBS News Staffers

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa —  The government today ordered the expulsion of three CBS News staff members. A South African official said the network broadcast of footage of a black funeral was “in flagrant contempt” of a court order.

Minister of Home Affairs Stoffel Botha informed CBS News producer William Mutschmann, reporter Allen Pizzey and cameraman Wim de Vos that they must leave South Africa by Tuesday.

Mutschmann is an American who has been based in South Africa for the last five years, Pizzey is a Canadian citizen based in Athens who covers South Africa regularly, and De Vos is a Dutch national who has lived in South Africa 11 years.

Mutschmann said the three were told they could meet with the Home Affairs minister on Monday to appeal the ouster. If carried out, the expulsion would “severely curtail CBS’ ability to cover the South African story,” he said.

CBS News on Wednesday broadcast footage of a funeral for black riot victims in Johannesburg’s Alexandra township.

At the time, CBS anchorman Dan Rather said it had been obtained “outside South Africa.” CBS officials in Johannesburg claimed not to know how or where the film was obtained.

Stoffel Botha reiterated in a statement from Cape Town that South Africa had learned from experience that “the mere presence of television cameras in explosive situations leads to further violence wherein property and life of innocent people are endangered.”