Media barred from seeing municipal reports
2012-11-13 11:45
-
Durban in a Word
Thirty writers, thirsty views of Durban. Each piece evokes memories of the city that has shaped...
Was R126.00
Now R121.00
buy now
Durban - The Ethekwini municipality has barred journalists from seeing reports before they are debated by the council, the Mercury reported on Tuesday.
This move was reportedly intended to prevent the media from studying documents on how ratepayers' money was being spent.
In the past few months journalists had been asked on a number of occasions to leave the executive committee boardroom to allow council members to discuss reports.
Some of the documents which had been discussed in private included the Manase and Associates forensic report, the city's organisational structure, and an abridged version of a report by Strauss Daly Attorneys on aspects of the Manase report.
Deputy chairperson of the media freedom committee of the SA National Editors' Forum, Raymond Louw, criticised the city's decision, saying it was unconstitutional.
"This is unacceptable censorship and part of a growing clampdown on information emanating from government," Louw was quoted as saying by the Mercury.
City spokesperson Thabo Mofokeng did not respond to questions about the matter.
- SAPA
