SANEF concerned by the lack of consistent engagement by the Presidency

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) says President Cyril Ramaphosa has failed to take questions this year following his updates on COVID 19 – despite his acknowledgement of the SANEF request earlier in the year.

SANEF has made the comments in a statement following their last meeting of the year.

The editors’ body says it is concerned by the lack of consistent engagement by the Presidency.

It says there was also a promise to engage with the media in July following the looting and violence,  but this never happened.

“In a country dealing with multiple crises including a deadly pandemic, a struggling economy, policy uncertainty, unanswered questions around the recent looting, South Africans deserve to hear about these and many other issues from the head of state,” notes SANEF in a statement.

SANEF has urged the Presidency to consider reinstituting the cabinet indaba – where the media could interact with the top level of the executive. The last Indaba was held in 2015.

 

Statement: SANEF Holds Successful Council Meeting As It Calls On Government Mutually Respect Its Relationship With The Organisationhttps://t.co/WcZfB2nS5f pic.twitter.com/Hvo7czNxh7

— SANEF (@SAEditorsForum) November 21, 2021