A global body that seeks to protect the right of journalists across the world to work in a free environment has decried legislation introduced by the South African government that threatens a free and independent press.

The board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), which represents 18,000 publications in 120 countries, called on the South African government to ensure an environment that better protects media freedom and independence of journalists.

"WAN-IFRA has expressed its deep concern that the [South African] government is considering a range of measures 'that will intimidate the press, promote self-censorship and silence criticism',” said a press statement issued by the body following a board meeting in Durban, South Africa.

The WAN-IFRA board criticised a number of proposed bills that it said, once approved, are likely to expand the South African government's powers to suppress journalists and censor content.

In particular, it termed a cybercrime bill currently tabled before the South African parliament as an “assault on the right to digital privacy” and denounced the draft Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, which would criminalise "bringing contempt and ridicule" onto figures of authority,

"The Board also noted that the controversial Secrecy Bill could still be signed into law after Parliament recommended President Jacob Zuma give it his final approval, despite vigorous opposition from media and civil society groups."

The board separately expressed deep concern over the detention of some 150 journalists and the sacking of thousands of media employees en masse in Turkey.

The state suppression of press "removes accountability from Turkey’s ruling elites and severely damages Turkey’s democratic credentials", the board's statement said.

"The Board [...] dismisses the Turkish authorities’ persistent and deliberate attempts to smear journalists by association with terrorism or terrorist-related activities," it said, and called on Turkish authorities to immediately free all detained journalists.

The WAN-IFRA board also passed six other resolutions in support of media facing state authority in Turkey, Botswana, Cameroon, Tanzania, Zambia and Mexico.