South Africa expels American journalist

The government has ordered the expulsion from South Africa of Associated Press correspondent Cynthia Stevens, a government spokesman said. Offering no explanation, the government gave the American reporter, assigned here since March 1979, 14 days to leave.

The expulsion Thursday came four days before Nat Gibson, a United Press correspondent in Johannesburg and an American, was to appear in court on charges of violating the Defense Act by reporting that troops were helping to guard a Port Elizabeth auto firm against rioters last year. The accuracy of Mr. Gibson's dispatch has not been questioned, but prosecutors say it broke defense regulations.