Manuel+hits+at+media+with+a+brolly,+Sapa,+Business+Day



=Manuel hits at media — with a brolly=


 * Sapa, Business Day, 19 December 2007**

The African National Congress (ANC) has apologised for the “boorish behaviour” journalists at its Polokwane conference have been subjected to, which included Finance Minister Trevor Manuel “attacking” a photographer with his umbrella, the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said yesterday.

Sanef said it had met the head of the ANC presidency, Smuts Ngonyama, and handed over a letter outlining the forum’s concerns. “Ngonyama apologised, on behalf of the ANC, for the treatment that journalists have experienced at the hands of ANC security personnel.”

Ngonyama reportedly told Sanef the ANC would take action to improve the working conditions of journalists covering the conference.

In its letter, Sanef deplored the “apparent inadequate arrangements” made by the ANC to accommodate and facilitate media coverage of the event. “It is Sanef’s view that the obviously scant attention given to the effective functioning of the media by the conference organisers is at the root of the boorish behaviour towards the media by particularly certain ANC security personnel.

“The treatment of the media at the conference goes against the grain of SA’s democratic culture, which the ANC itself not only fought for but ensured for it to be entrenched in the constitution.”

Sanef said it condemned the actions of ANC security personnel on Monday, when several journalists and photographers were manhandled and their cameras damaged.

Yesterday morning Sanef said Manuel had “attacked” a photographer. “This morning none other than a cabinet minister (Manuel) attacked a photographer with his umbrella whilst physically shoving away another.

“If this is the behaviour of senior ANC leaders it is perhaps no wonder that other members feel empowered to act in the same unacceptable manner.”

Bongiwe Gumede, a Beeld photographer, was knocked down when Manuel tried to grab a camera away from her. “I was busy taking photographs outside the election station when Manuel lunged at my camera,” she said.

Gumede, who fell down during the tussle, said she was shocked by Manuel’s actions, and at one stage thought Manuel would harm her.

Other members of the media who witnessed the incident confronted Manuel, and asked why he had attacked Gumede.

Manuel responded by jabbing the spike of his umbrella into the lens of another photographer. Then he told members of the media to desist from harassing him.

ANC spokesman Steyn Speed said the treatment of journalists and confrontations between ANC officials and photographers were due to a “breakdown in communication”. He said media’s access to proceedings at the conference in Polokwane was perhaps (“maybe”) managed badly. Sapa


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/national.aspx?ID=BD4A665192**

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