The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has welcomed Thursday’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruling declaring the jamming of cellphone signals and Parliament’s broadcasting policy unconstitutional.

“The judgment is hugely significant because it represents a victory for media freedom in our country and the rights of journalists to do our jobs unhindered,” Sanef deputy chairperson Katy Katapodis said.

“We see this as a victory for a our hard-fought democracy as well as a victory for our country’s Constitution.”

The ruling by the SCA follows an appeal by Sanef and Primedia Broadcasting of a Western Cape High Court ruling in May this year regarding the use of signal jamming device during last year’s state-of-the-nation address as well as the cutting of the broadcast feed, which led to the public not being able to see the chaotic scenes which unfolded during President Jacob Zuma’s speech.

The majority high court judgment held that cutting off the feed did not amount to censorship as the legislature had the right to protect its dignity, handing a legal blow to media houses who went to court after Parliament trained its cameras on the presiding officers while police dragged Economic Freedom Fighters MPs from the chamber on February 12.

The court also ruled that Parliament could not be held responsible for the jamming of the cellphone signal in the House on the same day, ahead of the state of the nation address.

The Supreme Court of appeal unanimously overturned the high court judgement.

“I’m certainly hoping it will send a very clear message to authorities not just in Parliament but across the country that we live in an open democracy and South Africans do have the right to see what transpires in our institutions, especially the National Assembly,” said Katapodis.