Police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s decision that the media will only be allowed to direct questions to provincial officials is an attempt to gag the media, the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) said on Thursday.
”It does not only infringe on media freedom but also on the constitutional right to freedom of speech,” said Pieter Groenewald, the party’s spokesperson on safety and security.
”It is quite clear that Selebi does not like the media reporting on the police and the escalating crime situation in South Africa.”
This reflects Selebi’s ”inability” and the ”gagging” is a further denial of the severity and extent of crime in the country, Groenewald said.
”Provincial media officials will be controlled to create an impression that everything is going well and that crime is under control.”
From January 22, the media will be required to direct questions to provincial officials as the South African Police Service is doing away with area communication officers.
”There will be no comments to media enquiries from any member of the service in the province … Do not attempt to make direct contact at police stations because only official spokespersons at provincial head office will deal with the media,” said Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo of the Gauteng police.
”Where information about local incidents was obtained first hand and very quickly from local police stations, it will now be obtained second hand and too late for publication,” Groenewald said. — Sapa