Issued by: Gauteng Legislature Office of the Secretary
MEDIA STATEMENT
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature sincerely regrets the security incident which took place shortly after the adjournment of the House yesterday, regarding the enforcement of a long-standing security rule.
Prior to the Sitting and for an extended period of time, the VIP Protection Unit had been informed that five minutes after the end of the Sitting, all persons present in the Public Gallery be asked to remain inside, and be allowed to enter the lobby in front of the Chamber only after the MPLs and MECs had exited safely. This rule had not been enforced in the past, due to a lack of staff infrastructure.
Speaking yesterday after the incident where eleven journalists were prevented by the VIP Protection Unit staff from leaving the Public Gallery, the Head of Communication at the Legislature, Reinhild Niebuhr, said that her department together with the Sergeant-at-Arms, Kishore Badal, and Sgt Valentine Chetty of the Unit, decided to relax the rule as it applied to journalists.
Niebuhr added that "the rule was never intended to limit the access of the media to information for this one day, or any other time. We reassure the journalists of continued and unlimited co-operation and assistance, in making information available without constraints, or embarrassment."
Accredited members of the media who are visibly wearing their security access cards will be allowed to exit into the foyer, in order to make contact with MPLs and MECs, she said.
The Sgt-at-Arms said this new exemption for journalists, will be "communicated to the VIP Protection Unit, and while it is important that journalists be cooperative and sensitive to the existing rules in the Legislature, the Unit will definitely take every step necessary to ensure that a similar situation does not recur, and that the security of the MPLs and visiting members of the public, including media representatives, is always given foremost priority."
MOEMISE MOTSPE - Media Liaison Officer (Issued by the Communication Department of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature)