I very much hope you are not closed. Although I disagree with what you say, you should certainly he free to say it. Good luck. – Peregrine Worsthorne, editors Sunday Telegraph, London
I wish to express my support for The Weekly Mail and its right to publish information on current events in South Africa. – Katharine Graham, chairman of the board, Washington Post
The government's threat to the future of The Weekly Mail is yet another sign that essential freedoms of expression are being extinguished in South Africa by degrees. It is possible that the South African government deludes itself that by doing this gradually, the world may notice, and care, less. We do notice and we do care. – George Brock, foreign editor, The Times, London
I send yon all our good wishes in your present predicament. People on both sides of the South African debate in Great Britain react with dismay at the spectacle of newspaper bans and we shall be watching how you fare with anxiety in the weeks ahead. – Peter Preston, The Guardian, London
We are saddened and dismayed at the government's latest assault on press freedom in the action it has taken against The Weekly Mail. In our view, restriction of news about a nation's problems does nothing to help solve them – and, in fact, makes solutions less likely. — Dana Bullen, executive director, World Press Freedom Committee, Washington.
The muzzling of the press means the censoring of every citizen. The warning by the home affairs minister sent to The Weekly Mail and other publications is a direct threat to all the readers of these news media. Freedom House urges the home affairs minister to reconsider his action, and relieve WM, the other journals so afflicted and all South Africans of this oppressive restriction. – Freedom House, New York
Since the Rand Daily Mail was forced to close, The Weekly Mail has courageously carried the torch of press freedom. It bas provided valuable information and analysis of our conflict-ridden society. It is the task of all people who truly value freedom of expression and the public's right to know to oppose the government's attack on the media in general and WM in particular. – Azhar Cachalia, for the United Democratic Front.
It is deeply saddening that The Weekly Mail is once again under threat from the South African government. The need has never been greater for a forthright and independent newspaper, committed to a just and equitable future South Africa – Stanley Uys, journalist, London
We call on all freedom-loving South Africans to fight for their right to know. We support all of you at The Weekly Mail in your struggle to stay alive. — Association of Democratic Journalists, Johannesburg
Our union stands in solidarity with journalists under siege throughout the country and salutes the courage of those fighting to tell the truth. May your voice continue to be heard. – Southern African Society of Journalists, Johannesburg
The American Society of Newspaper Editors, representing nearly 1 000 US and Canadian editors of daily newspapers, expresses profound concern and dismay over the intimidating procedures imposed by the South African government against The Weekly Mail. – Katherine Fanning, president, American Society of Newspaper Editors
We were shocked by the news of the latest move by the South African government against your newspaper. Please know that The Weekly Mail has, and will continue to have, our full and enthusiastic support as a responsible, reliable monitor of the situation in your country which has earned the admiration of professional journalists throughout the world. – George Theiner, director, Index on Censorship, London
The International Federation of Journalists, representing more than 125 000 journalists throughout the world, expresses full support and solidarity with The Weekly Mail in its courageous stand in reporting news as fully and objectively as possible. – Mia Doornaert president, and Aidan White, general secretary, IFJ, Brussels
The following is an extract from a letter sent to President PW Botha: "The American Newspaper Publishers Association is concerned that your government has warned The Weekly Mail about articles it has published. "We urge you not to close or censor newspapers." – Jerry W Friedheim, president, ANPA, USA
Your paper has meant a lot to me; I can imagine how difficult it is for a paper to provide information in a State of Emergency. I admire your objectivity and openness which is never aggressive. And I hope to continue reading you in 1988. – Countess Marlon Doenhoff, Die Zeit, Hamburg
I deeply deplore any attempt to intimidate The Weekly Mail, a newspaper which is a most important bridge between black and white readers. – Anthony Sampson, author and journalist, London
The Weekly Mail has become a symbol of forthright journalism. So long as it appears on the streets of South Africa it is a link with the free, world. If the government should remove it, they would be moving towards the world of conformity or silence. A new iron curtain will be seen to go up, just as the old one in Europe is going down. – The Hon David Astor, former editor of The Observer, London
You have our fullest support – Anti Censorship Action Group, Jhb
I write to deplore the pressures you are facing in your brave attempt to uphold the highest standards of journalism. If ever a country needed, honest reporting of its own affairs, it is South Africa. Your many friends and admirers in Britain send you their support in your hour of trial. The world is watching you. – Donald Trelford, editor, The Observer, London
I support your right to publish the truth as you see if I pray that you remain free to do so. You will remember Milton's words: "Give me the liberty to know, to utter and to argue freely according w conscience, above all liberties." – Andreas Whittam-Smith, editor, The Independent, London
Mai I express my sympathy in The Weekly Mail's difficulties with the press laws. I hope you will be able to overcome them and to continue publication. – Max Hastings, editor, Daily Telegraph, London
The International Press Institute, representing leading journalists, editors and publishers in the free world wishes to express great concern at the warning notice issued to The Weekly Mail. – Peter Galliner, director, IPI, London
… and messages from South African editors
The Weekly Mail has the support of all freedom-loving people in their striving to reflect the events of the country in their own independent and professional way. – Aggrey Klaaste, deputy editor, The Sowetan
So far from rating an official warning, The Weekly Mail deserves the highest praise for the invaluable, perhaps irresplacable, service it in depicting in most difficult circumstances the black experience in this country – something whites need to understand infinitely better if there is any hope at all of a peaceful future. – Laurence Gandor, former editor of the Rand Daily Mail
The official "warnings" issued so far to your and other publications are either very evil or very stupid. It does not matter which, for the result is the same: people are being denied, in the name of "security", the right to learn the truth about their own society. Arbitrary closure of The Weekly Mail or any other legally recognised publication is a signal that soon everyone in our country is likely to be rendered blind to reality as well as dumb. Only those who whisper rumours or shout slogans will be heard. – Harvey Tyson, editor-in- chief, The Star
Deepest sympathy regarding your warning from Minister Botha. How insulting to be classed with Die Stem. Don't be disheartened. The Weekly Mail still gives its readers news that no other paper in the country carries. One plea: bring back the Linksfield Liberal. – Jane Raphaely, editor, Cosmopolitan, Cape Town
The Weekly Mail is a brave venture by dedicated newspaper people that has greatly enriched the range of news and opinion available to South Africans. It has been unafraid and resourceful in focusing the spotlights of enquiry on many developments and events which may not otherwise have received the attention they deserve, thus serving the public interest well. The minister of home affairs should regard WM as a valuable source of information and not a messenger of occasional bad tidings whose head must now be chopped off. I personally find that WM's views are sometimes at variance with my own, but I shall defend its right to hold them because freedom of information is indivisible. — Tertius Myburgh, editor, Sunday Times
This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.
