SANEF council urges government to review laws

Resolutions included:

• Because some police officers continue to treat journalists in a negative manner, enforcing unofficial restrictions in media reporting, it will revive its discussions with senior police leaders to ensure that the media is allowed to render its public service of reporting the fight against crime.
  
• It commits itself to continue to lobby government to amend all punitive laws including Section 205 of the Criminal Procedures Act, and also for the media provisions of Protection of Personal Privacy Bill to be withdrawn. A colloquium between it and the relevant government ministries will be convened soon.
  
• It calls on the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, to respond to an earlier letter the forum has sent his office calling on him to revoke his decision to gag prosecutors from speaking to the media. It calls on him to accord prosecutors their professional status and responsibilities to communicate to the public.
  
• It will seek an urgent meeting with FIFA and the LOC to express media dissatisfaction about outstanding restrictive conditions for registration and accreditation, especially with regard to digital media and press photographers.
  
• Noting that many South African institutions are increasingly blocking their members from speaking to the public via the media, it will develop a campaign to promote a national culture of openness.

At the meeting, the president of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Kirstan Nematandani encouraged it and its membership to give maximum coverage to the World Cup, saying media support to the event was “invaluable”.

It received a report from Joe Thloloe, press ombudsman, who reported that the press council was fully staffed and had handled nearly 70 complaints over the previous three months. The ombudsman encouraged editors to help publicise the services of office to the public.

The council meeting was held on Sunday, 13 February 2010.

For more:

• Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo's address to SANEF