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SANEF / GCIS Joint Statement on Opening of Vaccination Programme for Journalists

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Vaccinated: By Chris Johnson

 

30 July 2021

The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) in partnership with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and the National Department of Health wishes to call on all journalists to get vaccinated following the Health Ministry’s announcement today that the media sector can go get vaccinated at their nearest vaccination site.

This media vaccination programme caters for all age groups of the sector including the under 35-year-old journalists in newsrooms around the country. Journalists above 34-60 years of age are still urged to get vaccinated and self-register on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) due to their eligibility.

The government has concluded a bulk upload for registration of all journalists who have responded to call to submit their details through the GCIS facilitated process, and emails will be sent out today to all individual journalists and media houses to confirm their registration on EVDS. Individual SMSes will not be sent through the bulk registration system.

We thank the media sector from the mainstream to the community, online/digital, broadcasting, to print as well as freelancers for participating in the registration process which took less than a month.

Provinces such as KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo are already taking advantage of the role the media plays in society by vaccinating journalists and ensuring that they help encourage young and old in the country to voluntarily participate in the national vaccination project. This is also helping dispel misinformation and myths about the efficacy of vaccines.

The partnership between SANEF, GCIS and the health department has proven that a lot can be achieved through cooperation..

Enquiries: SANEF: Hopewell Radebe on 0835821734

GCIS: Tshegofatso Modubu on 083 276 0786

Issued by: SANEF and GCIS

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Email: [email protected]

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SANEF & GCIS Joint Statement on Vaccine Registration for Journalists

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), in partnership with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), wish to correct confusion created on social media about the vaccine registration process for the media sector.

On Friday 09 July 2021, SANEF invited the media sector from the mainstream, community, online/digital, broadcasting, print and freelance journalists to complete a form and submit their media staff details. It was stated that the below 35 years in the media will be considered in this media vaccination programme.

All media organisations and freelancers were requested to complete a registration form and email it to the GCIS which has been assigned the responsibility to collate all forms on behalf of the Health Department. We appreciate and thank all freelancers and media houses that completed the form and submitted their staff members’ lists.

The process to conclude the collation of the forms is underway and will be concluded on Friday, 23 July 2021.

However, the GCIS has put in place an online form (which mirrors and captures the same information) that can also be used for registration for those in the media sector such as freelance journalists who have “not registered”.

Journalists whose details were sent via their employees are not required to fill in details on the online form. This will create duplications. Freelance journalists who completed the form and sent it via email should not resubmit via the online link.

Journalists between the ages of 35 and 60 are still urged to register on the EVDS system and get vaccinated because they do not have to wait for this media vaccination registration process using available options including online registrations: vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za, COVID-19 Call Centre on 0800 029 999, WhatsApp 0600 123 56 and Dial *134*832# using their digital devices to avoid congestions and long waiting queues at vaccination sites.

We also call for calm and patience as the process to register the media sector is almost complete and vaccination will be done as soon as possible.

Enquiries: SANEF: Hopewell Radebe on 0835821734

GCIS: Tshegofatso Modubu on 083 276 0786

Issued by: SANEF and GCIS

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Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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SANEF Launches Guide on Reporting Pandemics

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Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc across the media industry, with most media houses seeing financial losses, resulting in job losses, but pandemic has also claimed the lives of many journalists around the world. In response to this deadly virus, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has developed a guide, Reporting in a Pandemic, which includes Covid-19 and related strains.

In South Africa, by the end of last month, close to twenty journalists had passed away due to Covid-19 since the outbreak early last year.

By the end of last month, close to five hundred media workers had died in India due to Covid-19 related complications. Most of those that passed away contracted the virus while they were out in the field, doing their work as journalists.

The Press Emblem Campaign, a media group based in Switzerland, recently reported that more than two hundred media workers died in Brazil between March 2020 and the end of last month.

The Reporting in a Pandemic guide, produced collaboratively by SANEF in close partnership with Fray College and Internews, draws on experiences of many journalists infected and affected by the pandemic. The guide is curated to ensure that the media records the challenges and lessons learnt about the pandemic, for current and future referencing and prevention.

The public needs accurate reporting of the pandemic to bring home the continued need for responsible behaviour.  The project noted that adherence to social distancing and other preventative measures is decreasing as citizens consider the threat to be waning, even as the third wave of infections hit provinces such as Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Sbu Ngalwa, SANEF’s Chairperson, said: “The document on guidelines for reporting the pandemics is released today just as the country is in the grip of a “third wave” of infections. While the government’s vaccination programme has received mixed reactions and, at times, criticised for being slow, SANEF believes the media needs to cover the process in a fair, accurate and balanced manner tackling disinformation, misinformation and myths surrounding the pandemic and the vaccines.

“As journalists, we should not lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with a deadly virus, and we should never drop our guards. We must always be conscious of the potential danger of contracting the virus in the field,” Mr Ngalwa said.

In a televised address to the nation on Sunday 12, July 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed concerns on rising recorded daily infections that were reaching levels last seen in a second wave in January 2021.

“Additional restrictions are necessary… Our focus is on limiting social contacts while preserving the economy,” President Ramaphosa said.

SANEF started the project after noting that some internationally produced safety toolkits on handling the pandemic have not dealt directly and in-depth with the unique challenges of reporting in a South African context. The project reflects home-grown knowledge on how to report safely in the African context and taking into consideration the socio-economic dynamics of the country.

Accordingly, SANEF undertook a consultative process involving community and science journalists to develop a guide for reporting on this pandemic in line with the needs of South African reporters and society at large. As a result, the guide is aligned with scientific understanding and the needs of media practitioners. It was written by a team of credible and experienced writers and signed off by the SANEF’s Education and Training committee which has experienced editors and academics.

SANEF and its partners believe that the guide gives the media practitioners the needed technical know-how and understanding to accurately convey information about the pandemic.

We also believe that the guidelines will ensure that the newsrooms do not lose focus, maintain standards and the momentum for public adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

The link can be accessed here:

The Webinar Recording can be downloaded here:

Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
  • Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
  • Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary General (083) 399-2852
  • Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610 9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
  • Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director – (071) 682-3695

 

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Sign up for SANEF’s Reporting the Pandemic Guide – Launch

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Join us for the launch of the Reporting the Pandemic Guide, a resource developed by SANEF and its partners to assist South African journalists and media practitioners to navigate working during a global pandemic.

Date: 20 July 2021
Time: 10.00am – 11.00am
Registration Link: https://bit.ly/36jC7fC

The launch will include a panel discussion facilitated by Mia Malan, founding editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa, on Vigilance in Reporting Covid, why heightened knowledge and vigilance is needed when reporting a pandemic.

Please download the guide here SANEF COVID GUIDE 2021 A5 SINGLE PAGES

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National Call on Freelance Journalists and Media Houses to Register Staff for Vaccination

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The process to vaccinate journalists progressing well.

The South African National Editors’ Forum wishes to thank all media houses big and small around the country for registering for the vaccination of their staff through the survey.

Click on this Weblink for the survey:

We achieved over 90% of registration in just four days. As we take the next and last step of the process, we hope to achieve the same level of success with the next step of uploading and submitting names and details of staff that will be vaccinated in the next few days. We wish to challenge the media houses and individual freelancers to speedily complete the attached forms and submit them without delay by Wednesday 14th July 2021, we could get the media vaccinated without delay the very next week after.

The media sector from the mainstream, to community, online/digital, broadcasting, to print as well as freelancers below 35 years will be considered. All media organisations and freelancers must complete the attached form and email it to the GCIS which has been assigned the responsibility to collate all forms on behalf of the Health Department.

To download the form Click here

Please email the completed form to Cindy Ngozo at: [email protected]

We, therefore, appeal to the media fraternity to speed up the process of uploading staff/employees’ details. This will enable the department to process the media and then move onto the next sector of essential services.

Media houses must complete the forms and provide the list(s) of staff according to regions or municipalities (cities, towns) where their staff offices are based. For example, if the head office in Johannesburg has 200 staff members, they should be at the top of the list, followed by 50 people based in Durban as the next region etc or send separate lists according to cities or towns where they operate.

We are all aware of the announcement today by acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi during a weekly briefing that registrations for the next phase of the country’s Covid-19 vaccine drive, aimed at people aged between 35 and 49, will open on 15 July. The vaccination of this cohort will begin on 1 August.

We still encourage journalists above 35 – 60 years of age to register here and get vaccinated: https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/#/

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

 

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SANEF Bids Farewell to Another Veteran Journalist

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The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) is deeply saddened by the death of KZN veteran Editor Clement Ntombela (75). Our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Ntombela fondly remembered as “Clem” to most of his family and friends, died yesterday morning at his home in Westville Durban, after health-related complications. He had just returned home after a brief stay in hospital and was surrounded by his family when he passed on. He is survived by his wife Joyce, his two sons, a grand-child, two sisters and a brother.

He was an Editor at various print and broadcast outlets in KZN, including Regional Editor at the SABC KZN, Editor of the Daily News, Ilanga newspaper and Drum Magazine.

Family spokesperson Lorraine Gumede said he was loved by so many and will be dearly missed. “He was a larger-than life family man and a loyal friend. He was loving to his wife and children and the extended family. A person of great heart who was willing to go the extra mile to help anyone who needed help. He loved his work in media, but he also cared deeply about his community and helped where he could.” His funeral is scheduled for next Thursday, 8 July.

SANEF KZN Regional Convener Judy Sandison described Ntombela as a “thoroughly nice guy”. “Clem was a great writer and worked with me as part of the new regional news structure when we were transforming radio news in KZN in the early 90’s. He was a pioneer as the first Zulu-speaking editor in the province. In the early 90s he was a news leader who always played a role of unity. He gave equal coverage and respect to all the warring factions in the province – the ANC, IFP and UDM at the time”.

SANEF Media Freedom Chair Mary Papayya described Ntombela as a colleague who was always calm and collected. “He was a kind person, unassuming and an incredibly tolerant newsroom leader. We both found common ground when we had to tackle issues of transformation in the newsroom, especially in current affairs and the news narrative. We shared a lot in common having worked in print and broadcasting and together with other like mind editors tackled issues of race, transformation, and a changing media landscape in the late 80s and early 90s on various platforms.”

Former SABC Regional Editor & News Editor Nhlakanipho Zulu described Ntombela as someone who worked with “reputable editors who were not only editors but activists to dismantle apartheid”. “He shared the stage with the likes of Prof Phil Mthimkhulu, Obed Kunene, Subry Govender and many others of his generation. During the violence in KZN of the 1980s and 1990s in KZN he guided our newsroom with distinctive leadership.”

Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
  • Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
  • Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary General (083) 399-2852
  • Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610-9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
  • Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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SANEF Mourns the Death of Three Journalists Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) mourns the death of three journalists this week from Covid-19 complications as the third wave of the global coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep across South Africa.

SANEF has learnt with great sadness of the passing of SABC journalist, Moabi Litheko, eNCA’s former output editor, Celeste Phillips, and Primedia’s technical manager, Dan Maswanganye.

Their death is truly unfortunate as it happened in the same week that the National Covid Command Centre agreed to get media houses registered so that journalists could be vaccinated within the next few days.

Maswanganye, popularly referred to as Bra Dan, passed away in hospital on Tuesday night due to Covid-19 complications. Respected and adored, Bra Dan has been described by industry peers, both young and old, as a consummate professional who was warm, welcoming and had an infectious laugh.

He worked at Primedia Broadcasting for 37 years and leaves behind his wife and children.

SANEF’s Gauteng Convener, Katy Katopodis worked with Maswanganye for over 20 years.

“Bra Dan was an institution and so well loved and respected by everyone he worked with. He was such a kind, fatherly figure who always made time for everyone around him. He will be so sorely missed.”

On Wednesday, the SABC sadly announced the passing of bulletin writer for the Sesotho Television News Bulletin, Moabi Litheko. He was admitted to Flora Clinic to receive treatment for Covid-19 complications.

The SABC’s Group Executive: News and Current Affairs, Phathiswa Magopeni said their prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues, mostly those he worked closely with on the desk.

Celeste Phillips, formerly an output editor at eNCA, also passed on from Covid-19 complications on Wednesday and is survived by her husband and two young children.

Asanda Ngoasheng, SANEF’s Western Cape Convenor, described Celeste as a kind and beautiful soul, always full of jokes and ready to smile but had zero tolerance for nonsense.

“I am heartbroken by the news of her passing. I met Celeste as a young journo when we worked together as bulletin writers at the SABC’s English news desk. She had more TV experience than me and was always happy to guide and support me in my learning in the newsroom and settling down in Johannesburg,” Ngoasheng said.

Nadia Samie-Jacobs, a former colleague at eNCA wrote: “A piece of my heart is missing, and that piece is in the shape of you, Celeste. You were a kind woman; you went out of your way to help others. You were generous. You fought for what was right. You were angered by injustice.”

SANEF expresses its heartfelt condolences to all families that have lost their loved ones. May their dear souls rest in eternal peace.

Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
  • Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
  • Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary General (083) 399-2852
  • Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610 9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
  • Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director – (071) 682-3695

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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SANEF Welcomes the Government’s Decision to Prioritise Journalists in the Vaccine Rollout Plan

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The South African National Editors’ Forum welcomes the government’s decision to follow through on its promise to prioritise journalists in the country’s vaccine rollout programme. Journalists, as designated frontline workers have risked their lives every day for the past 16 months, working throughout the pandemic as part of their responsibility to the public.

Even during the different peaks of the pandemic, they have not had the option to suspend work or work from home because of the nature of their work and the critical service they provide. They have traversed the country, going to hospitals, clinics, vaccination sites, mass rallies, press conferences etc to reflect on the pandemic, in service to the country to ensure that the public is adequately informed.

On Monday, the government informed SANEF that journalists will be next in line as soon as all media houses submit their information regarding their employees’ age groups and regions where they are stationed. All community media establishments around the country including freelance journalists will also receive forms that they must complete and submit to Government Communications and Information System (GCIS).

SANEF particularly appreciates the government’s decision to not only inoculate frontline journalists but to accommodate all categories of media workers as the government wants to target and deal with the media as a sector than a selected group.

Details about the programme and what needs to be done to get the whole sector vaccinated will be forthcoming. We call on all journalists and the media fraternity to vaccinate so that the government can quickly move onto the next priority sectors.

In January this year, Sanef made an impassioned plea to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) for journalists to be on the list of essential workers and be prioritised in the second phase of the rollout. We also lobbied President Cyril Ramaphosa, pleading the case for journalists to be considered for vaccination. SANEF was extremely concerned that without a plan to vaccinate journalists, they will continue to get infected by the disease. We argued that, like other front-line workers, journalists posed a serious threat to their families and that this had an equally daunting impact on the state of their mental health.

We had observed small newsrooms battle with the job’s demands as their colleagues have been infected in the line of duty and are forced to isolate. Despite the risk, they remained committed to the cause, going beyond the call of duty as the nation struggles through these unprecedented times.

SANEF wishes to thank all journalists for patiently waiting for their turn, as the government rightfully prioritised health care workers, pensioners and now educators.

While many industries have scaled back operations, journalists remain needed even more now more than ever and will be out in the field to report on the now highly transmissible Delta variant, thought to be twice as contagious than the Beta strain of the virus.

Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
  • Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
  • Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary General (083) 399-2852
  • Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610 9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
  • Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682 3695

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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SANEF Mourns the Passing of Media Freedom Activist, Editor and Publisher Wandile Fana

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) mourns the untimely passing of media freedom activist, editor and publisher Wandile “Wara” Fana due to Covid-19 related complications on Friday afternoon.

Fana, (45) was the Publisher of Skawara News, a community publication based in Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape. He was also the president of the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and a Board member at the Press Council of South Africa (PCSA).

SANEF community media subcommittee chairperson Dunisani Ntsanwisi described Wara as a dear brother and friend who was passionate about media freedom and dedicated to the growth of the community media sector.

Wara served as one of the esteemed panellists of the SANEF Media Relief Fund, alongside stalwarts Mathatha Tsedu, Joe Thloloe, and Melody Emmett. The media relief fund has so far distributed about R2 million to struggling journalists who lost their jobs and/or their income as a direct result of the negative impact of Covid-19 on the media sector, since the declaration of the state of disaster in March 2020.

Former executive director of AIP Mrs Louise Vale described Wara as “a fierce believer and fighter for integrity in journalism, the radical advocate for the transformation of the media and creation of space for communities to speak in their own voice”.

“He was straightforward but gentle and always respectful in his approach. Through losing Wara, we have lost so much of his sense of deep thoughtfulness, compassion, dedication, and love,” she said.

SANEF expresses its sincere condolences to his family, friends, and the media fraternity as a whole. We also extend condolences to all those who have lost loved ones to the Covid-19 pandemic. Wara is survived by his wife and two children.

Lala ngoxolo Wandile ‘Wara’ Fana. Ugqatso lwakho ulufezile!

Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
  • Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
  • Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary General (083) 399-2852
  • Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610 9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
  • Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682 3695

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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