In its statement, the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) says the purpose of the National Key Points Act of 1980 is to protect the security measures of national key points from being revealed. In this case, it unfortunately seems that the ministers are using security laws to avoid accounting to the public on the Nkandla upgrades.
It has never been the intention of the media to undermine President Zuma's security by publishing these pictures. Similarly, we publish photos of other national key points, like the Union Buildings and Parliament on an almost daily basis.
Sanef says the photographs that have been published were taken from a distance or from the air to show the extent of the upgrades worth over R200m for which the public has paid and goes on to say it must always be remembered that these upgrades were done to President Zuma's private residence, from which he and his family will continue to benefit for years to come, and not state property.
Sanef says "We will continue to publish images of the Nkandla upgrades because we firmly believe there is immense public interest in doing so. To stop doing so will be a betrayal of our duty as watchdogs of democracy."
In a separate statement, Sanef has condemned an assault on an Eyewitness News journalist:
The South African National Editors' Forum condemns in the strongest terms the assault by a member of President Jacob Zuma's VIP Protection Unit of Eyewitness News journalist Reinart Toerien outside the home of former president Nelson Mandela in Houghton on the morning of Monday November 18. Toerien was filming the departure of Zuma's motorcade from the Mandela home after the president had visited the former president. Toerien was standing on the pavement bordering the public road outside the house when one of the security guards leaned out of a window of a security 4X4accompanying Zuma's car, reached out and slapped Toerien. He also pushed against his video camera forcing Toerien to stumble back. At the same time he shouted to him to "Voetsek".
Eyewitness News editor-in-chief Katy Katopodis, who expressed her outrage at the manner in which the security guard was clearly trying to prevent Toerien from picturing the event, said "these strong-arm tactics are nothing short of disgraceful and we call for a full investigation and appropriate action to be taken. We are shocked that the President's security believes that they can act with such impunity and are in some way above the law," she added, pointing out that "no threat was posed by the camera or the cameraman and he was standing a respectful distance from the vehicle, alongside a public road."
Katopodis noted the important democratic principle that "the media has a critical role to play and needs to be allowed to do its job without intimidation. The President's security detail needs to respect the rights of all its citizens. Bullying tactics won't work and there need to be consequences for this unlawful action."
Sanef supports Katopodis in calling for a full investigation and disciplinary action to be taken and notes that there have been a number of attacks on journalists by officials and members of the public in recent months. Sanef expects civil servants, and especially those charged with accompanying the president on public activities, to respect the rights and duties of the media and treat journalists with respect.
Sanef also approves of the action of Toerien in laying criminal charges against the VIP protection unit member at the Norwood police station. Toerien recorded the incident on video and the vehicle registration number is clearly visible.
