The rape trial of South Africa's former deputy president Jacob Zuma has begun in Johannesbourg away from the critical eye of the media. Zuma appeared before court opening hours and his trial was not put on the court roll. Outside the court, journalists were told by the police commisioner that the trial was confidential and they were physically prevented from entering the court room by policemen.

Jane Duncan of The Freedom of Expression Institute commented that preventing the media from covering the trial was illegal since an application had not been made to hold it in camera: "The police simply do not have to power to limit what is effectively a constitutional right of the public to a transparent judicial system. This can only be done on very limited grounds, and the magistrate should do so only once an application for an in camera hearing has been made."

She added that in the absence of such an application "the actions of the police are arbitrary, censorious and partisan."

Duncan has called the police's "manhandling" of press photographers unacceptable and stated that they "gave the impression that they were merely an extension of Zuma's bodyguards."

The South African National Editor's Forum (SANEF) has condemned the events in a press statement stating the following: "Journalists cover court cases and are the eyes and ears of the public. The media is a force for good in society and an essential element of democracy - it should be allowed to do its job unhindered."

According to SANEF "No reasons could be obtained ... for this breach of media freedom."

AFP calls the trial "one of the most important stories since the ruling African National Congress (ANC) came to power after apartheid in 1994" indicating the gravity of the exclusion of the media from the proceedings.

Sources: Johannesbourg Daily Star, AFP (registration required), SANEF