Editors want Sona statement withdrawn

The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has backed a demand by the Parliamentary Press Gallery Association (PGA) yesterday that the legislature withdraw a statement about negotiations on media arrangements for the State of the Nation address.

The PGA accused the secretary of parliament, Gengezi Mgidlana, of misrepresenting the facts in the statement issued earlier in the day and said it constituted a breach of trust.

“The statement was not only misleading, but it was issued prematurely while discussions were ongoing between the PGA, parliament and Sanef,” PGA secretary Paul Vecchiatto said.

Vecchiatto said contrary to assurances from the secretary of parliament, Mgidlana, in the statement, the PGA remained concerned that journalists covering President Jacob Zuma’s 10th State of the Nation address today would have their movements and ability to work restricted.

Mgidlana said it was agreed at a meeting between his office and the PGA on Tuesday that, contrary to several media reports, nothing had changed in parliament’s regulations regarding media operations around the event.

He added that a liaison team of PGA members had been established to interact with parliamentary officials as “a first point of call”.

He said it should help nip any potential challenge, real or imaginary, in the bud”.

Vecchiatto countered: “It is not correct to claim that a liaison team of the PGA had been established already to assist in the event of a problem arising on the day,” he said.

“In Tuesday’s meeting, there was no discussion about a statement being issued.

“We are still in discussions about the next move forward,” he added.

“By issuing a statement prematurely, parliament has broken our trust.”

Sanef noted that it had written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, and chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise, to spell out concerns regarding restrictions on the media’s movements.

The SA National Editors’ Forum also said it remained “extremely concerned that additional security arrangements would hamper journalists’ ability to report on the Cape Town event”.