Statement on the meeting of President Zuma with the South African National Editors Forum
20 February 2015
President Jacob Zuma today, 20 February 2015, met with the leadership of the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) at Sefako M Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria where they discussed matters of common interest.
President Zuma described the meeting as "friendly, cordial and frank and afforded us the opportunity to discuss current issues as well as reflect on the events of last week in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address (SONA)."
The President reiterated to the meeting his condemnation of both the disruption of SONA proceedings and the jamming of the network signal. President Zuma pointed out that the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster had already addressed the media and the public on the incidents of the day. He further reassured the SANEF leadership of government's commitment to freedom of speech and the media, as well as freedom to disseminate information and impart knowledge to the South African public.
"The jamming of the signal was wrong, it was uncalled for and should never happen again," said President Zuma.