VETERAN journalists, academics and a retired judge will take part in the yearly Media Freedom Day commemoration at the Wits University Downstairs Theatre in Johannesburg on Monday from 12.30pm.

VETERAN journalists, academics and a retired judge will take part in the yearly Media Freedom Day commemoration at the Wits University Downstairs Theatre in Johannesburg on Monday from 12.30pm.

These include retired judge Pius Langa, Phil Mthimkhulu, who is now a university lecturer, press ombudsman Joe Thloloe, Wits University's humanities faculty dean Tawana Kupe, Southern Africa Report editor and publisher Raymond Louw and Avusa Media public editor Thabo Leshilo.

Also commonly known as Black Wednesday or Black Solidarity Day, the event marks the infamous October 19 1977 apartheid regime's banning of The World and Weekend World newspapers and Christian publication Pro Veritate.

The Nationalist Party also banned 19 anti-apartheid organisations and detained hundreds of their critics across the country.

The commemoration is presented by the South African National Editors Forum, Print Media SA, Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, Media Institute of Southern Africa and the Freedom of Expression Institute. Old Mutual, due to be represented by group stakeholder relations head Lebo Monyatsi, is the event's sponsor.