# South Africa’s media sector is commemorating Black Wednesday, marking the apartheid government’s crackdown on press freedom on the 19th of October 1977. Authorities banned newspapers, including The World and Weekend World, and outlawed 19 Black Consciousness organisations. Journalist Percy Qoboza, an outspoken critic of apartheid was among those detained. The day serves as a reminder of the dangers of censorship and the vital role of a free media in holding those in power accountable, exposing injustice and keeping the public informed.
Black Wednesday highlights importance of press freedom