The SA National Editors Forum (Sanef) was consulting editors and lawyers on Wednesday about the media’s exclusion from former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s rape hearing.
”We are consulting the editors on the way forward,” said Sanef executive committee member Liz Barratt.
Sanef would also consult with lawyers on the legality of the barring of the media from the courtroom.
Reporters were barred from the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, when Zuma was charged with rape. They were also not allowed immediate access to the docket.
Expressing his concerns over the events at the court, Sanef chairperson Joe Thloloe said: ”Zuma appeared in court long before the normal hours that are set aside by the court. In fact, he was sneaked into court. While he was there and the media thought they must try and cover the case, they were barred from covering the case by the police and his own body guards.”
The police’s actions were absurd and smacked of collusion to shield Zuma from further public embarrassment, added the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI).
”It was not the role of area commissioner [Oswald] Reddy to usurp the magistrate’s powers to decide whether to close the court,” said FXI executive director Jane Duncan.
”The police and the area commissioner abused their positions of authority to prevent the media’s right to report on the proceedings freely and without interference,” she said.
The South Africa Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa charged: ”This is blatant interference in the constitutional duties of the media to report judicial proceedings and the appearance in court of alleged offenders.”
Earlier the National Prosecuting Authority said it sympathised with the media.
”We would sympathise with the fact that the media was frustrated in that they couldn’t get pictures of that appearance,” said NPA spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi.
However, the interests of the media could not supersede those of Zuma as an individual, he said, in explaining why the NPA had not notified the media that Zuma was scheduled to appear in court.
”How do you inform the media about this, because first of all you can’t mention a person’s name until he has been charged?” he asked.
What the NPA had done was issue a statement to say he had appeared.
Johannesburg’s chief magistrate Gert Jonker was not aware of any ruling to prevent the media from attending the case.
Zuma was granted bail of R20 000 during his appearance and the case was postponed until February 13, when he will appear in the Johannesburg High Court.
Zuma has denied the accusation that he raped a 31-year-old family friend at his home in Forest Town, Johannesburg, in November.
He has also denied the charges of corruption on which he will be tried in the Durban High Court in July next year.
Many of Zuma’s supporters believe there is a campaign to stop him becoming the next president of the African National Congress — and the country.
ANC accepts Zuma’s decision
The African National Congress has accepted the decision of Zuma to suspend himself from party leadership structures for the duration of his trial for alleged rape.
It would hold a special National Executive Committee meeting to convey this decision to party structures and alliance partners, it said on Wednesday.
”The extended NWC [National Working Committee] noted the announcement by the deputy president of this decision, given the nature and seriousness of the allegation…
”The meeting accepted this decision”, it said a statement read by secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe.
”Following consultation with comrade Zuma, [the NWC] understands his decision to mean he would not act nor pronounce in the capacity of deputy president of the ANC for the duration of this trial.”
Party president Thabo Mbeki would fulfil Zuma’s duties.
”With regards to the current rape charge and allegations, the ANC will provide support for the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator.”
Zuma has also denied the charges of corruption on which he will be tried in the Durban High Court in July next year.
A special National Executive Committee meeting would have to be held before the holidays started on December 15, said Motlanthe.
The outcome was unlikely to differ from that announced on Wednesday.
Zuma does not receive a salary as party deputy president. – Sapa