March 2015

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March 30 2015

Clarification on a SANEF Statement on the Deadline of Submissions to the FPB on Digital Regulation

Access to Information & Media Policy, News

SANEF Statement 30 March 2015

On March 25 SANEF issued a statement outlining actions it and other industry organisations have been engaged in regarding the creation of a regulatory framework for online and digital media content.

In the statement SANEF also made the following point: “SANEF will also be challenging the limited time provided for comments as the deadline is March 31.” This is incorrect. The deadline for submissions is July 5. SANEF regrets the error and apologises to the FPB for the wrong impression created.

The FPB will start with public engagements in April and this and other aspects of the process are to be the subject of discussions on April 9 when SANEF meets with the FPB.(see statement 25 March 2015)

For Inquiries
SANEF Executive Director Mathatha Tsedu 0824540527

March 25 2015

SANEF Statement on Regulation of Digital Content and the Draft Policy of the Film and Publications Board

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SANEF Statement 25 March 2015

The SA National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has since last year been involved in discussions with the SA Press Council, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the National Association of Broadcasters as well as the BCCSA in trying to format a self regulatory regime for digital content published by media organisations.

The primary aim of these efforts is to ensure editorial content generated and carried on digital platforms is ethical, fair and protects vulnerable groups such as children, but also provide a legitimate vehicle through which aggrieved parties can turn to for redress arising from such content.

To this extent a joint code of conduct as well as a complaints mechanism for print and digital media are being worked on. Such a system will for the time being not include traditional broadcasting due to the statutory nature of their licenses and complaints mechanisms, but a single access point to all the regulatory bodies is one of the options under discussion. SANEF and the other bodies are planning a conference for later this year where the code and regulatory system would be debated and adopted.

SANEF notes that the Film and Publications Board (FPB), which carries the statutory responsibility to protect children and other categories of vulnerable media consumers from harmful content, has produced a draft code on regulating digital content for discussion and comments by the public.

SANEF wishes to place it on record that as a key industry player it was never consulted by the FPB in the development of this draft, despite claims by the FPB that “the FPB consulted extensively with industry, civil society and key stakeholders”. We also know that the IAB was not consulted despite being the foremost body of digital platform content producers.

SANEF is engaging the FPB on the draft with the aim of ensuring that the industry should be allowed the space to produce a self-regulatory mechanism instead of one imposed by a statutory body, particularly as the present draft proposes measures that infringe on freedom of expression.

In particular, the draft proposes prior classification of all digital content and not just films and games, which patently infringes on the right to publish. SANEF will also be challenging the limited time provided for comments as the deadline is March 31. A meeting between SANEF and the FPB is scheduled for April 9.

For Inquiries
Chris Roper, Chairperson SANEF Convergence & Digital sub-committee 0832772082

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

March 19 2015

SANEF Statement on the Passing of Ken Owen

News, Obituaries

SANEF Statement 19 March 2015

The SA National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has learnt with sadness of the passing of former Sunday Times and Business Day Editor, Ken Owen. Owen was amongst the most professional journalists this country has produced. He was also an eccentric man who did not shy from controversy. Many will miss his letters to the editor, invariably signed “ Outraged Granger Bay Resident” where he would take on anyone and everyone about issues that bothered him. Jim Jones, who succeeded him at Business Day, said of him: “ You either loved or hated Ken, but whatever category you fell in you just couldn’t ignore Ken.” SANEF passes its collective condolences to Owen’s family and friends.

For Inquiries:
SANEF Executive Director Mathatha Tsedu 0824540527

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

March 16 2015

SANEF Media Statement on the Death of Minister Collins Chabane

News, Obituaries

SANEF Statement 16 March 2015

The SA National Editors Forum (SANEF) joins South Africans in mourning the death on Sunday morning of Minister of Public Service Collins Chabane. In his previous capacity as Minister in the Presidency responsible for GCIS and general communication, Chabane was always responsive to issues and concerns of media.

In particular SANEF remembers the way he diffused the controversy started by utterances by then GCIS CEO Jimmy Manyi, that he would only place government adverts in media that gives government positive coverage.

Chabane called Manyi to order and made it clear that Manyi was misrepresenting a cabinet decision on centralizing control of government advertising. Chabane said then that government would not use its advertising budget to interfere with editorial control.

SANEF mourns his tragic passing and hopes other ministers and government officials across all spheres of the state will emulate his commitment to media freedom and editorial independence.

For Inquiries Mathatha Tsedu SANEF Executive Director 0824540527

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

March 16 2015

SANEF Condemns Western Cape Government’s Cape Times Decision

Media Freedom, News

SANEF Statement 16 March 2015

The Management Committee of the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) at its fortnightly meeting today strongly condemned the directive by the Director-General of the Western Cape, advocate Brent Gerber, to provincial departments to not renew their subscriptions of the Cape Times newspaper. The Management Committee is to send a letter of protest to the WC government about this, calling for the decision to be rescinded.

Gerber wrote to all heads of department on March 9, informing them not to renew their subscriptions or initiate further subscriptions to the newspaper.
“Cabinet has discussed with concern the ongoing decline in the quality of reporting in the Cape Times. As we get newspaper cuttings every day, Cabinet considers it to be fruitless expenditure to renew Cape Times subscriptions,” Gerber wrote in his letter.

SANEF finds it appalling that the executive committee of the Western Cape government, led by a former journalist, Ms Helen Zille, interferes at this level in the affairs of provincial department heads, who should have the freedom to choose which news mediums they find useful or not.

If the Western Cape government has an issue with the quality of content in the Cape Times, they should address it with the editor of that newspaper or through complaints to the office of the Press Ombudsman, and not by effectively calling for a government boycott of the Cape Times.

For Inquiries
Mpumelelo Mkhabela SANEF Chairperson 082 456 2941
Adriaan Basson Media Freedom Sub Committee Chair 082 562 2113

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

March 11 2015

SANEF Statement on Police Attack on Journalists in Parliament

Media Freedom, News, Safety & Wellness

SANEF Statement 11 March 2015

SANEF CONDEMNS THUGGISH BEHAVIOUR BY POLICE AT PARLIAMENT

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) strongly condemns the thuggish behaviour by members of the police who manhandled a journalist outside Parliament and forced him to delete pictures from his camera.

Two hours before President Jacob Zuma was due to answers questions in Parliament, Media24’s Jan Gerber was blocked by five unidentified policemen in white shirts outside Parliament while he was taking pictures of them and also public order policing vans.
The five dragged him to the ground opposite the SAPS station in Plein St and forced him to delete his photographs. He sustained a few scratches and bruises injuries during the incident.

The police officers refused to identify themselves other than to say they belong to the SAPS VIP protection services.

SANEF is perturbed by these actions that are in contravention of police standing orders which prohibit police officers from deleting journalists’ pictures. This is the latest incident of police intimidation despite promises by senior police officers, including the national commissioner, that such illegal behaviour would be stopped.

SANEF will take this matter up with General Riah Phiyega’s office as a matter of urgency. SANEF further encourages Gerber to lay a criminal charge against the police officers concerned and consider instituting civil action as a strong message to the police that they are not above the law.

For Inquiries
Mpumelelo Mkhabela SANEF Chairperson 0822962541
Adriaan Basson Chair Media Freedom Sub Committee 0825622113

March 11 2015

SANEF Statement on Vuyo Mvoko Mugged During Live Crossing

News, Safety & Wellness

SANEF Statement 11 March 2015

The South African National Editors’ Forum notes with concern the mugging of SABC Contributing Editor Vuyo Mvoko and several senior staffers, captured on camera outside Johannesburg’s Millpark Hospital, as he was about to cross live for a 7pm television news segment on Tuesday night. One of Vuyo’s muggers is clearly heard exhorting his colleague to “shoot the dog”. The SABC crew were robbed of their cellphones and a laptop, but thankfully were not harmed. Every South African lives with the reality of crime, but to see thugs brazenly ignoring television cameras and robbing media workers in the course of their work, yet again brings home the level of criminality in our society. The muggers are clearly identifiable on camera and we hope that arrests and prosecution will occur soon. SANEF appeals to members of the public who recognise the men to do the right thing and alert the police to their identities and whereabouts so that the law can take its course.

For Inquiries:
Adriaan Basson Sanef Media Freedom Chair on 082 562 2113
or Raymond Louw 082 446 5155 Deputy Media Freedom Chair on 082 446 5155

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

March 10 2015

High Court Interim Ruling in the Matter Between SANEF and Other Organisations Vs. Parliament

[Concluded] - Court Cases, Media Freedom, News

SANEF Statement 10 March 2015

The Western Cape High Court today handed down part judgment in the matter between SANEF and other parties against Parliament.

SANEF and the other organisations filed a two part urgent application last month. The first part dealt with the jamming of cellphone signal in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address. The second part related to the rules of Parliament governing the broadcast of grave disturbances in the House which direct that such disturbances not be broadcast.

The applicants had asked the court to grant interim relief that would effectively suspend the rules pending a determination of their constitutionality. The Court declined to grant the interim order arguing that no irreparable harm would be suffered by both the applicants and the public as the final hearing on the second part is scheduled for April 20.

SANEF has noted the interim judgment of the court and the fact that it is not based on the merits of the legal issues raised. SANEF is pleased that the court has taken our application seriously: firstly by appointing a full bench to hear it and secondly by insisting on a full hearing.

We further appreciate the court’s acknowledgment of the serious constitutional issues that our application raises and that the court is prepared to deal with the constitutional validity of the rules of Parliament.

Parliament’s representative had argued that the court should not instruct the legislature on how to run its proceedings as it would undermine the principle of separation of powers. In this regard the court ruled: “In our view, an order of court directed at compliance with the provisions of the Constitution would not undermine the principle of separation of powers.”

It’s clear from the interim judgment that the court wants to appraise itself of our argument and those of the defendants fully before a final judgment is handed down.

We are finalising the additional affidavits as required by the court.

For Inquiries:

SANEF Chairperson: Mpumelelo Mkhabela 082 296 2541
SANEF Media Freedom Committee Chairperson: Adriaan Basson 082 562 2113

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

March 4 2015

SANEF Meets Parliament Presiding Officers Over Cellphone Jamming

Media Freedom, News

SANEF Statement

A delegation of the SA National Editors Forum (SANEF) led by Deputy Chairperson Bongani Siqoko met with Parliament’s Presiding Officers in Cape Town today to discuss last month’s jamming of cellphone network at the start of the State of the Nation Address (SONA). The Parliament delegation comprised of National Assembly Speaker Ms Baleka Mbete, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Ms Thandi Modise, Deputy NA Speaker Mr Lechesa Tsenoli and Secretary to Parliament Mr Gengezi Mgidlana. The SANEF delegation included Executive Director Mathatha Tsedu, Western Cape Convenor, Janet Heard and Media freedom subcommittee Chair, Adriaan Basson.

The meeting had been requested by SANEF to seek assurances that the jamming, which left journalists covering SONA unable to work, would never happen again. SANEF has also been discussing the broadcast feed given by Parliament to broadcasters, which invariably edits out commotion in Parliament. SANEF and other media and civil society organisations have taken the two issues to the Cape High Court where it is set down for hearing before a full bench on Friday March 6.

The Presiding Officers welcomed the initiative to talk and but emphasized that as the two issues were before court substantive discussions were not possible. They however reiterated their condemnation of the jamming and said they would prioritise discussions on proposals that SANEF submitted last month to change the broadcast rules once the court case was over.

“ We accept the assurance and are also quite happy that discussions around the feed will be prioritized as this will enable media to fully inform South Africans about what is happening in Parliament,” Siqoko said.

For Inquiries:
SANEF Executive Director Mathatha Tsedu 0824540527

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF