Bill amendments not enough - SANEF

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Home Affairs on 31 May 2007 passed the bill with the censorship changes that the media had complained about.

“SANEF and its media partners will study the bill in its final form and make further representation to Parliament,” said newly elected SANEF chairperson Jovial Rantao.

SANEF also welcomed:

1. The rejection by the courts of a state application that a trial involving the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons be conducted in secrecy. SANEF expressed appreciation that the judge believed the public had a right to know and that the trial be conducted in open court. The judge also ruled that the state make a separate application for specific evidence to be heard in camera.

2. The rejection by another judge to reject an application for an interdict to prevent Beeld newspaper from publishing information about the mismanagement of the eNaTIS licensing system by the Department of Transport.

3. Welcomed hundreds of international and continental editors and publishers who are attending this week's all important World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and World Editors' Forum (WEF) twin conferences being held in Cape Town.
   

Awards

At a function on the weekend, SABC Special Assignment journalist Jacques Pauw was presented with the Nat Nakasa Award for integrity and bravery in the service of journalism.

The SANEF-WROTTESLEY AWARD for excellent service to the organisation was also awarded to long serving SANEF secretary-general Mary Papayya.

Rantao also thanked outgoing management committee, chairperson Ferial Haffajee and deputy chairperson Thabo Leshilo for their services in building the forum.

New council

SANEF 2007/2008 Council was voted in as follows: Jovial Rantao, editor of Sunday Independent and deputy editor of The Star was elected SANEF chairperson; the deputy chairperson is Henry Jeffreys, editor of Die Burger and Mary Papayya, bureau chief of Sowetan in KwaZulu-Natal was re-elected secretary-general while Juanita Williams, news editor of Independent Online, was elected treasurer.

Others on the 2007/8 SANEF council include:

Femida Mehtar, executive director (ex officio)

Elsabe Pepler, central regional convenor
Fackson Banda, Eastern Cape regional convenor
Amina Frense, Gauteng regional convenor
Kristin Palitza, KwaZulu-Natal regional convenor
George Claasen, Western Cape regional convenor
Elizabeth Barratt
Ferial Haffajee
Gaye Davis
Guy Berger
Katy Katopodis
Lizette Rabe
Mark van der Velden
Mathatha Tsedu
Mondli Makhanya
Paddi Clay
Raymond Louw
Thabo Leshilo
Tyrone August
Willem Pretorius

Zelda Jongbloed