Neither the police nor the VIP protection services had instructions to bar the media from last week’s court appearance of former deputy president Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg.
In an answering letter sent to the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef), The Star and Primedia Broadcasting on Wednesday, the police said there was no policy ”which sought to prevent the public or journalists from access to open court proceedings”.
”There had also been no instructions from the [South African Police Service] that such alleged action be taken by the police or VIP protection services,” the police wrote.
An investigation will be launched into issues raised by the media representatives and ”appropriate action would be taken if they were found to be true”.
On Thursday, Sanef welcomed the ”prompt response” and said it will closely watch the outcome of the investigation.
”We await with interest the outcome of the investigation, which it is hoped will be completed soon and the results made public.”
Sanef reserved its right to take legal action if the police or the VIP protection service again prevented ”lawful access of journalists to public places”.
Editors sent a strongly worded lawyer’s letter to National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi on Tuesday, complaining about the barring of journalists from the court where Zuma appeared on a rape charge.
Editors, media groups and legal experts expressed outrage after Zuma was brought into the Johannesburg Magistrate’s 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.
Tuesday’s letter pointed out that not allowing reporters into the court was unlawful and unconstitutional.
In the letter, Selebi was asked to undertake that the media not be barred from the high court rape proceedings scheduled to start on February 13.
Any attempt by the police to bar the media from the court would immediately be met with an application for an urgent interdict, he was warned.
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 hear the matter in camera.
The Criminal Procedures Act and the Magistrate’s Court Act prescribe that all court proceedings should be carried out in open court unless the court, in special cases, directs otherwise, Sanef, The Star and Primedia wrote.
By barring the media, the police had contravened both acts, they pointed out.
Support for Zuma
Meanwhile, speculation that support for axed deputy president Jacob Zuma is declining is an impression created by the media, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) charged on Thursday, reiterating its support for him.
”We support Jacob Zuma’s initiative to step down from his duties as the ANC deputy president, but there are individuals who do not want us to agree to that,” ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula said at a press briefing in Johannesburg.
”There is no change in terms of what we believe in because we are guided by principle.”
Zuma will appear in court on a rape charge in February, and on two charges of corruption in July.
The Young Communists’ League (YCL) also remains firmly behind Zuma, said its national secretary, Buti Manamela.
Regarding the rape charge, the ANCYL and the YCL said only a court can decide who is guilty and that it is unfair for people, especially the media, to put ”undue pressure” on the victim and the accused.
”We cannot have this matter being addressed in a kangaroo court. This matter should be dealt with by a competent court of law,” Manamela said. — Sapa