The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) says it will be approaching the Magistrates Commission to outline concerns regarding restrictive court reporting.

SANEF’s Media Freedom Chair, Nicki Gules, says the public has a right to know what happens in the courts and it the media’s responsibility to report on it.

She says they will present their concerns to the commission soon.

“A lot of magistrates don’t seem to understand or appear not to take heed of the principles of open justice and the open nature of the courts. So, we have approached the Magistrates Commission, and we will be meeting them next month to outline our concerns,” says Gules.

STATEMENT: SANEF commemorates Black Wednesday, reaffirming its commitment to defending media freedom and protecting journalists. #BlackWednesday #MediaFreedom #SANEF30 https://t.co/VOy5itVHeq

— SANEF (@SAEditorsForum) October 19, 2026

She says that so far they have gathered quite a number of these incidents of being denied or having reporters accessing the magistrates courts.

“We have documented these and we will be presenting these as evidence to the Magistrates Commission, of our concerns,” she adds.

Gules says they aim for the Magistrates Commission to be aware of the impact the lack of open justice has on the public’s right to know.

“I think that the Magistrates Commission needs to be aware of our concerns and understand to what extent a lack of open justice or the stymieing of open justice in some cases is having. Not just on the media, but the public, whom we represent. The public have a right to know. Justice needs to be done, but it also needs to be seen to be done. And that is the media’s crucial role and responsibility. There are many cases that the media need to be privy to, if not all,” she says.

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