South African PEN
Pen African Network delegates at the PEN International Congress in Tokyo.
PEN is a non-political organisation representing writers of the world, defending free-expression and encouraging literature. We live by a strong PEN Charter which champions the ideal of "one humanity living in peace in one world". Is this not an ideal to uphold for all people on all continents, including Africa?
Write! Africa Write! becomes a call for African writers to say what they wish to say and to eschew the divisions of the past in favour of the idea of one humanity living in peace on one continent. Originally PEN stood for Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Editors, and Novelists. A leading voice of literature, PEN now brings together poets, novelists, essayists, historians, playwrights, critics, translators, editors, journalists and screenwriters in a common concern for the craft and art of writing and a commitment to freedom of expression through the written word. Through its 145 Centres in more than 104 countries, International PEN operates on all six continents. The South African PEN Centre (SA PEN) is a branch of International PEN.
Qualification for membership of SA PEN is a recognised position as a published writer (one published literary work, or more), or a person deemed by the committee to be recognised as of sufficient standing, and is by invitation only. The committee is the final judge of any candidate for election to the SA PEN. A candidate for membership is also required to agree to subscribe to the PEN Charter.
News Flash
Daniel Pearl, Raymond Louw Named IPI World Press Freedom Heroes
The late U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl and South African editor Raymond Louw were today named World Press Freedom Heroes by the International Press Institute. The Vienna-based press freedom organization will formally present the awards during a special ceremony at its annual World Congress, to be held between 24-27 September 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan.read more
Hearty congratulations to member Ronnie Kasrils on winning the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award for non-fiction on the 25th June 2011, for the memoir of his late wife, Eleanor, The Unlikely Secret Agent.
Ronnis Kasrils responds to SA PEN press statement - 15/02/11 - PEN-South Africa alarmed at the number of journalists arrested by the police while carrying out their reporting duties:
Dear Fellow PEN members;
As a former government minister and as a writer I strongly deplore the reported police harassment and arrest of journalists in our country. We struggled and sacrificed for freedom and democracy and that included the universally cherished right to know the truth through freedom of expression and the principles of a free press. The police are there to protect our citizens and to uphold our constitutional rights. We cannot and will not tolerate any form of restriction, intimidation or violence against any member of the media engaged in their work. Such malpractice is a regression to the bad old apartheid days and reminiscent of the interference so recently meted out to the media reporting events in North Africa and the Middle East. Our government and security sevices need to take heed of how such heavy-handed methods over time leads to a point where the people's anger finally boils over.
Ronnie Kasrils
(deputy minister defence 1994-99; minister water and forestry 1999-2004; minister for intelligence services 2004-08) 18th February 2011
Download Press Statement (PDF) >>
