The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has called for the urgent safe return of investigative journalist Micah Reddy after reports of his disappearance in Djibouti, while also raising concerns about protections for journalists ahead of South Africa’s local government elections on 4 November.
The organisation’s council, which met on 19 September, said it was “deeply concerned” by reports that Reddy had disappeared in Djibouti and called on the country’s authorities to provide clarity on his whereabouts and circumstances.
“SANEF calls on the authorities in Djibouti to urgently facilitate his safe return and provide clarity on his whereabouts and circumstances,” the forum said, adding that it would continue monitoring developments.
Read more: South African journalist Micah Reddy missing in Djibouti
The meeting also focused on media freedom and access to information ahead of the elections.
SANEF criticised the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for not including recommendations it submitted during consultations on the Electoral Code of Conduct. The forum said the final code does not explicitly recognise journalist safety and media freedom as essential elements of South Africa’s electoral system.
Strengthen protections for journalists
According to SANEF, the omission means political parties, independent candidates and their supporters are not specifically required under the code to protect journalists from intimidation, harassment, threats and cyberbullying during election campaigns.
The organisation said it is engaging with IEC leadership in an effort to strengthen protections for journalists and reinforce constitutional rights to media freedom and freedom of expression. It said such measures would align with recent recommendations by the South African Human Rights Commission on protecting media freedoms.
SANEF also expressed concern over compliance with access-to-information laws by public institutions.
The council noted recent findings by the Information Regulator that nearly half of South Africa’s 853 public bodies have failed to meet their statutory reporting obligations relating to access to information. It highlighted municipalities as a particular concern ahead of the elections, with only 91 of the country’s 257 municipalities submitting annual reports – a compliance rate of about 35%.
Press freedom
The forum also condemned the continued violence against women in South Africa, calling on the South African Police Service and the criminal justice system to investigate the murders of women swiftly and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
Beyond South Africa, SANEF reaffirmed its support for press freedom across the continent by resolving to stand in solidarity with the Eritrea 16 – a group of journalists detained without trial in Eritrea for 25 years.
The forum said it would write to the Eritrean Embassy in Pretoria calling for the journalists’ release and urging the Eritrean government to disclose their whereabouts and welfare, while granting access to their families and legal representatives.
