The South African National Editors’ Forum’s executive director, Mathatha Tsedu, says Sanef is always happy when more information is made available to the public. He says the decisions by Reeva’s father and Judge Thokozile Masipa are good decisions with regard to transparency and making information available to the public.

However, the decision does not absolve editors from the applicable relevant sections of the Press Council’s Code with regard to gruesome material. He says South Africans should not expect to see photos of a dead Reeva Steenkamp laying in the bathroom in any newspaper. Tsedu says the media is governed by ethical conduct with regard to the usage of pictures that are gruesome. “The Press Code prohibits the use of shocking images unless such a picture is necessary in the telling of a story.”

The same relates to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA for the electronic media. It prohibits the use of violence in a manner that says nothing.

Tsedu says people should therefor not be surprised if they do not see any of the pictures that Steenkamp’s father wanted them to see. 

André Grobler/OFM News