The mood in South Africa is more gloomy than usual, so it’s pleasant that the 2023 World Press Freedom Index provides some good news. South Africa’s ranking has improved markedly from last time I wrote about it, in those distant pre-COVID days of 2019, when South Africa had dropped 3 places in the rankings to 31st, and, even more alarmingly, dropped 1.80 points in score.
In 2023, South Africa’s score improves to 78.60, and its ranking to 25th, sandwiched between France in 24th and the United Kingdom in 26th. 25th is the country’s second-best result since RSF started the rankings in 2002, surpassed only by the heady days of 2003, when South Africa reached 21st.
The score is made up of five contextual indicators; political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and safety. The order won’t surprise too many, with South Africa ranking 15th in legal framework, 26th in political context, 28th in sociocultural context, 29th in economic context, and lagging well behind, 48th in safety.
The worldwide picture was mixed. Africa saw a deterioration, with the situation for journalists being classified as “difficult” in almost 40% of countries in Africa, a marked drop from the 33% in 2022. Senegal saw a huge drop of 31 places, mostly due to its worsening security conditions for journalists, and in particular its judicial proceedings against two journalists, Pape Alé Niang and Pape Ndiaye, for reporting on the prosecution of opposition politician Ousmane Sonko.
The Tigray War in Ethiopia, and the explosion of Russian propaganda in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, particularly prevalent in Mali and Burkina Faso, two military governments strongly associated with the Russian Wagner Group, have all contributed to the difficulties.
Four of the top five countries were, as always, the Nordic countries of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, with Ireland coming between them in second spot.
South Africa comes second in Africa, behind only its neighbour Namibia (22nd), and, as far as predominantly English-speaking countries goes, it falls below only Ireland (2nd), Canada (13th), New Zealand (15th) and Namibia (22nd), just ahead of the United Kingdom (26th) and Australia (27th), and well ahead of the United States (45th)
Below is the table for South Africa since 2003. Since 2013, countries have been given scores ranging from 0 (the worst) to 100 (the best)
| Year | Score | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78.60 (+3.04) | 25 (+10) |
| 2022 | 75.56 (-2.85) | 35 (-3) |
| 2021 | 78.41 (+1.82) | 32 (-1) |
| 2020 | 77.59 (-0.22) | 31 (=) |
| 2019 | 77.81 (-1.80) | 31 (-3) |
| 2018 | 79.61 (-0.27) | 28 (+3) |
| 2017 | 79.88 (+1.80) | 31 (+8) |
| 2016 | 78.08 (+0.14) | 39 (=) |
| 2015 | 77.94 (+1.13) | 39 (+3) |
| 2014 | 76.81 (+1.37) | 42 (+10) |
| 2013 | 75.44 (N/A) | 52 (-10) |
| 2012 | 12 (=) | 42 (-4) |
| 2010 | 12 (-3.5) | 38 (-5) |
| 2009 | 8.5 (-0.5) | 33 (+3) |
| 2008 | 8 (+5) | 36 (+7) |
| 2007 | 13 (-1.75) | 43 (+1) |
| 2006 | 11.25 (-4.75) | 44 (-13) |
| 2005 | 6.5 (-1.5) | 31 (-5) |
| 2004 | 5 (-1.66) | 26 (-5) |
| 2003 | 3.33 (-4.17) | 21 (+5) |
| 2002 | 7.5 | 26 (+5) |
