The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) on Thursday night issued a strongly worded statement against former City Press editor Vusi Mona for unprofessional conduct in relation to his appearance and evidence before the Hefer commission of inquiry.
Sanef accused Mona of breaching all the rules of professional conduct in attending a confidential briefing and then disclosing the content of the meeting.
Retired Appellate Judge Joos Hefer was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki to probe National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka’s past and to determine whether Ngcuka was abusing his office to persecute apartheid-era opponents.
One of the incidents cited in support of the second charge is an off-the-record briefing by Ngcuka of a group of editors during which he reportedly defamed several prominent persons and made racist comments.
”Mr Mona, who has left his publication under a cloud concerning a serious conflict of interest, has compounded his earlier publication of the apparent minutes of the Ngcuka briefing.
”Unlike most of the media community who believe the media should not be involved in the Hefer commission, Mr Mona has chosen to use the commission to repeat and enlarge upon his earlier breach of confidence,” Sanef said.
The editor’s body added that the principle of confidentiality of sources and information was regarded as sacrosanct by journalists, many of whom had gone to jail to uphold the principle.
Background and confidential briefings were common practice in journalism. Editors were experienced in contexualising such briefings and retaining their own independence in regard to them, the association added.
”Mr Mona may have had reasons for disquiet at what he says took place at the briefing, but the professional rules of journalistic conduct provide for an ethical standard of conduct to deal with such situations,” Sanef said.
”If he did not accept the confidentiality of the briefing, he should have stated that at the time and left, but once he stayed after Mr Ngcuka had stated it was a confidential briefing, he was in our view bound to abide by those terms.
”For him to remain at the briefing and then state later that he did not accept it was in confidence is a gross breach of professional ethics,” Sanef charged.
”Sanef believes that in disclosing the contents of the briefing Mr Mona has seriously discredited himself as a journalist. Sanef will continue to promote ethical journalism amongst its members in order to maintain the public’s trust in the media.”
Sanef’s national council last week resolved to develop detailed guidelines for journalists about professional participation in background and confidential briefings.
The council at the weekend also decided to distance itself from journalists and editors who breached their duty to keep confidences.
Sanef deputy-chairman Guy Berger on Thursday night said Mona had been a member, albeit an inactive one. Berger said Mona’s membership effectively terminated when he resigned from the City Press.
Asked whether the organisation would have acted against Mona if he had still been a member, Berger replied ”yes.” – Sapa