Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2005-12-16 Reporter: Sapa Reporter: Reporter:

Police Deny Receiving Instructions to Bar Media from Zuma's Rape Trial

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date 2005-12-16

Reporter

Sapa

Web Link

www.capetmes.co.za

 

Johannesburg: 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 here.

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 (SA Police Service) that such alleged action be taken by the police or VIP protection services," the police wrote.

An investigation would be launched into issues raised by the media representatives and "appropriate action would be taken if they were found to be true".

Yesterday, Sanef welcomed the "prompt response" and said it would closely watch the outcome of the investigation.

They reserved their 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 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.

The Magistrate's Court Act prescribes that all court proceedings should be held in open court unless the court, in special cases, directed otherwise.

The police had contravened both acts, the applicants pointed out.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.