Freedom Of Expression Institute (FXI)

The FXI is a voluntary, non-governmental organisation managed by an Executive Committee, which is elected once every two years at the organisation's Annual General Meeting (AGM). The organisation’s work revolves around the following programmes:


Media & ICT Programme
The Media & ICT Programme advocates for universal service and access, the plurality of the media, broadcasting, and telecommunications sectors, and policy regulation and access. The programme also works closely with community-based organisations, focusing specifically on capacitating people at the grassroots level.

Anti- Censorship Programme
Since July 2002, the Anti-Censorship Programme has been monitoring the South African environment for freedom of expression violations and lobbying against censorship and its causes. It does this by responding to instances of censorship, producing longer-term analysis of censorship trends in the country, and initiating projects to identify and redress censorious legislation still obtained or being introduced into the statute books. The programme has set up campaigns with a view to increasing levels of awareness about the protection of free speech. The programme has also sought to increase co-operation between the FXI and journalist unions, media associations, community media, and international freedom of expression organisations. At regional level, the programme has embarked on a lobbying process around the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Culture, Information, and Sport, which among other things, requires member states to accredit media practitioners and also establish guidelines regulating the media profession.

Access to Information Programme
The access to information programme works to address practical problems in ensuring greater usage of the Constitutional right of access to information. The programme focuses on access to information about the state of delivery of basic services, such as water and waste management, electricity, health, and transport. According to FXI, such basic services are being delivered increasingly on a regional, commercial basis and as a result, struggles are emerging around access to affordable services, including around access to information on the activities and plans of the companies providing the services. The focus of this programme is to empower individuals, organisations, and social movements to use right of access to information to inform these struggles.

Law Clinic Programme
The purpose of the FXI Law Clinic is to promote the objectives of the FXI of freedom of expression and access to information through providing legal services for litigation and precedent setting cases in relation to freedom of expression. The Law Clinic provides FXI and its various programmes with general legal advice; provides expert legal advice and opinion on freedom of expression (free speech, media freedom, access to information) matters; and, on referral, by programme heads, gives legal advice to clients, or undertakes litigation on behalf of the FXI, or clients of the FXI.

Freedom of Expression, Access to Information

The Institute was formed from a merger of three organisations: The Campaign for Open Media, the Anti-Censorship Action Group, and the Media Defence Trust. The FXI is a member of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) which monitors freedom of the media and freedom of expression on a global scale. Through the IFEX Action Alert system, FXI publicises freedom of expression violations in South Africa and draws in other organisations to support its campaigns.