GERMISTON – Councillor Patricia Kumalo halted council meeting when she started questioning the presence of a lady manning a television camera in the media gallery. The camera person obtained permission from Ekurhuleni’s Mayoral spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini.
According Dlamini, “Carte Blanche was invited to cover the meeting just like all other media partners we work with.”
“Carte Blanche requested to film the council meeting because they wanted to compile material they could use ahead of the elections.”
Although the Speaker did not give any reason why she questioned the presence of Carte Blanche being at the council meeting, Executive Mayor of Ekurhunleni, Councillor Mondli Gungubele explained, “The speaker was within her rights to question the presence of any person who attended council meetings.”
Speculating that the speaker’s questioning was an attempt to ‘gag’ the media, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni chanted, “Freedom of the press,” as Clr Kumalo questioned the presence of the camera person.
The DA said in a statement, “Chanting ‘freedom of the press’ was to protest this obvious attack on the free press and their rights in terms of the law.
“The Standing Orders of Council (which is a by-law of the municipality) is very clear on the matter – the public and media cannot be denied access to meetings of council and its committees unless there are specific circumstances.
“It is only when the matter being discussed may prejudice an individual unfairly or the matter is confidential in terms of legislation. No such matters were on the agenda.”
According to the DA, this is not the first that this Speaker has indicated her discomfort with the media.
Despite what the law says, Clr Kumalo previously threatened to ban the media from attending the proceedings of council altogether when photographers from various media houses left the chamber to take photos of a DA walkout in September 2011.
