Threatened legal action by the media against police for barring them from the rape court appearance of Jacob Zuma has been reduced to a letter of protest.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef), Primedia Broadcasting and The Star on Tuesday said they have sent what they called an ”official letter” to National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
The missive asks whether he supports those police who barred the media from the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court last week.
Zuma was brought into court on December 6 before opening hours, through a side door and after the area around the court was cleared by police and bodyguards.
Reporters were barred from the court.
No reasons have been given for this breach of media freedom so far.
”The letter notes that the unlawful and unconstitutional conduct of the police and VIP protection services occurred in full view of the Johannesburg area police Commissioner Oswald Reddy,” the newspaper, broadcaster and editors’ forum said in a joint statement.
”It asks the national police commissioner if he does not condone their conduct, to say so publicly as well as to investigate and take disciplinary action.”
The letter further asks Selebi to undertake that the media will not be barred from the high court rape proceedings scheduled to start on February 13.
”Lawyers will go to court with the journalists that day to ensure the media freedom rights of all South Africans are upheld. Lawyers in this case are jointly representing Sanef, The Star newspaper and Primedia Broadcasting (Radio 702, Cape Talk, Highveld Stereo and KFM),” the statement says.
At the time of Zuma’s appearance, presiding magistrate Johan Boudrix said he was surprised to hear the media had been prevented from entering and that there had been no application to have the hearing held in camera.
”I’m not aware of any ruling to prevent the media from attending the case,” The Star quoted the court’s chief magistrate, Gert Jonker, as saying shortly after Zuma’s appearance. — Sapa