<em>Sunday Times</em> journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika made a brief appearance in a Nelspruit court on Friday and was released on R5 000 bail.
Chairperson of the Press Council of SA, Raymond Louw, on Monday took issue with a call by the ANC and SACP for a statutory media appeals tribunal.
South Africa’s media posed a threat to democracy, South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said in a media report on Monday.
A media tribunal would be an "imposition" on media freedom, press ombudsman Joe Thloloe warned on Friday.
The ANC has moved to allay fears that its proposed media tribunal is an attempt to curb media freedom.
Sanef on Sunday expressed its "strong rejection" of renewed proposals for a state-appointed tribunal and a growing slate of "hostile" new legislation.
The government was finalising proposals on a section of the Criminal Procedure Act which could force journalists to reveal confidential sources.
The media appeals tribunal mooted by the ANC could include measures to imprison journalists or force them to pay millions of rands in fines.
The SACP on Monday reiterated its support for an independent media tribunal, as suggested by the African National Congress.