Forum of Community Journalists objects to SAPS’ communication directive

The Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) has objected to SAPS’ directive preventing communication with local media.

FCJ is an independent and voluntary non-profit company striving to promote and express the interests of all journalists employed on a permanent or freelance basis at regional community newspapers and online community publications in South Africa.

In a press release issued last week, the Board of Directors of the Forum of Community Journalists was informed by its Gauteng members that a directive has been issued to SAPS communications officers at station level to refrain from communicating with local media.

The FCJ understands that this directive, issued on May 24 to Gauteng Provincial Heads for Corporate Communications, instructs that local media inquiries, often submitted by community journalists, be referred to district offices.

It is also believed that the matter will be deliberated at a meeting yet to be announced. In the meantime news gathering has been jeopardised as communications officers, this week, stopped communicating with community journalists.

Journalists in Gauteng depend on these communications officers based at local station level to keep their communities informed on matters pertaining to safety and security.

The FCJ believes this jeopardises transparency and negatively impacts on community journalists’ role as community watchdogs and informing society.

The FCJ is also concerned that the volume of inquiries that the SAPS district office will have to deal with will impact turnaround time on police comments, especially at times of breaking news.

The Board of Directors of the FCJ objects to this directive and reminds the SAPS leadership that communities across Gauteng and indeed South Africa rely on their local community newspapers to keep them informed on hyper-local matters.

It is through the reportage of community journalists that communities often unite with local police officers in the fight against crime and join awareness campaigns to fight off social ills such as gender-based violence.

If any of the FCJ members in other provinces become aware of the same type of directive in their province, please contact your regional director or the FCJ’s Executive Director, Marietta Lombard on 082 853 7817.