The Standing Orders Act — SAPS not coming to the party
Journalists still hindered in doing their jobs.
A recent incident once again highlighted the fragile relationship between journalists and the SAPS.
On attending a murder scene a journalist from the Record was prevented from taking photographs and chased from the scene, regardless of the fact that he complied with the rules and regulations. The officer then refused to provide his name or force number which clearly showed that he knew he was in the wrong.
This was unfortunately not an isolated incident and often journalists have to deal with this behaviour from both the SAPS and Metro Police.
Journalists right to conduct their work is first entrenched in the constitution in that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996) “entrenches the right to freedom of expression”.
The Standing Order 156 states clearly on page nine point 10 under the heading Conduct in public and towards a media representative that “a member must treat all media representatives with courtesy, dignity and respect,even when provoked, and promote ethical communication with the media”.
Point number 3.a under the same heading states that “although the media may be prohibited in terms of section 69 of the South African Police Service Act, 1995, from publishing certain photographs and sketches, a media representative may not be prohibited from taking photographs or making visual recordings”. Point 3.c also states that “a media representative my under no circumstances be verbally or physically abused and cameras or other equipment may not be seized unless as an exhibit in terms of any law”.
The Record contacted the spokesperson for Florida Police Station, who’s officer were involved in the incident, but they declined to comment on the incident and referred the Record to provincial level which the Record did on 7 April. By 14 April the Provincial structure failed to reply.
