The Herald Editorial: The manner of the arrest of Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika, the subsequent dropping of the charges and the determination of the Hawks to intensify their investigation into allegations of fraud, forgery and uttering, will summon uncomfortable memories of this type of harassment at the hands of the security police during apartheid.

The forces of law and order were then used relentlessly against opponents of the National Party government.

It is the way in which the arrest was handled that is of particular concern as it is difficult to reach any conclusion other than that this was a blatant attempt to intimidate not only a specific journalist, but the media in general.

It is not insignificant that the arrest occurred at the same time that the ANC repeatedly voiced demands for a media tribunal and the pernicious Protection of Information Bill was in circulation. It took place at a time when newspapers were exposing the levels of corruption within the ruling party and the extent of the profligacy of some Cabinet ministers.

It is clear that as a first step the Independent Complaints Directorate must investigate the circumstances around the arrest of Wa Afrika to determine not only whether the way in which he was arrested was justified and who was responsible for this, but also the degree to which there was a waste of police resources, why an arrest was made before the investigation had been completed and, critically, whether the intention was to intimidate.

More importantly, however, is how we set about halting the determination of the ANC to put measures in place that will have the effect of restricting media freedom and ultimately there are reasons to suspect even prevent reporting on the actions of police in cases such as that involving Wa Afrika.

Despite the denials this is unquestionably where this particular path leads.

It is heartening that the outcry against the media tribunal and legislation has come not only from inside the country but from the international community and the media. The world’s major news agencies released a statement yesterday in which they expressed their concern and tellingly pointed to the role the world’s media had played in exposing the evils of apartheid.

The opposition to the onslaught against media freedom must not weaken. An assault on the institutions of democracy is rarely blunt and direct but is rather an insidious, creeping invasion.

It would be wise in that regard to remember the words of Martin Niemoller: “First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a communist ... Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak out for me.”