SANEF concerned by limited media allowed at rugby games
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has called on SA Rugby to allow the media more access to cover this weekend’s rugby matches.
Local rugby will resume on Saturday with Super Fan Saturday at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria, with the Bulls taking on the Sharks and the Lions clashing with the Stormers.
The games will be played in an empty stadium due to the restrictions put in place to combat Covid-19.
This has also seen SA Rugby limit the number of reporters and photojournalists, with SANEF saying it is surprised to hear that the number of photographers have been limited to only two.
In a statement, SANEF said it believes the regulations should be removed to ensure that media and freelancers are not denied the opportunity to get back to work.
"Rugby authorities should note that the country has moved to lockdown level 1 as announced by the president. We thus appeal to SA Rugby to seriously consider opening up and enabling the sports media fraternity to resume working.”
The forum said Cricket SA also wanted to restrict access to only two photographers at their Solidarity Cup match.
The number was increased following a meeting between SANEF and Cricket SA.
"We hope that the same will apply for the rugby fraternity. Our proposal is that 5/6 major SA and 4 International agencies be allowed to send a representative to cover the matches inside the stadium with Covid-19 physical distancing protocols in place."
