tended to individual publications by the council. At the same time the Press Council was planning to dissolve itself and set up a new Media Council which would provide for cross-border platform regulation so that it covers both print and online publications that publish news, current affairs, commentary and opinion. This restructuring process continued throughout the year and was due to reach finality in early 2016. It involved a redrafting of the Press Code to include online publications such as websites, bloggers and other users of the internet who were expected to abide by the code. The council’s adjudication section would be a one-stop shop for readers who complain about news, current affairs and commentary by newspapers, magazines and online publications that subscribe to the system. The council was to add people with online skills to its staff to deal with complaints about online material. A side-effect of the PDMSA ceasing to exist is the loss of an important industry body representing the managements and business side of the press which could have the effect of weakening the press in its relationships with government, authorities and other institutions. JOURNALIST SAFETY Attacks on journalists increase The safety of journalists in the field was a constant talking point throughout the year. There were frequent occasions when journalists and photographers were abused or attacked by people taking part in protest demonstrations and marches or by police at crime and incident scenes. Photographers and reporters often had the images deleted from 58 So This is Democracy? 2015 their cameras and cell phones by the police. Subsequent meetings were held between media practitioners Sanef stated that unlawful conduct by the police was increasing and becoming almost a ritual when journalists arrived at scenes of crime or accident, pointing out that it was an abuse of media freedom and contrary to the regulations in Police Standing Orders which state that police should not obstruct journalists but should treat the media with courtesy, dignity and respect. Under no circumstances should they delete pictures from photographers’ cameras. Sanef demanded that the Commissioner should issue instructions to stop this conduct and take public action against those responsible. During two meetings held with Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega, journalists protested about the violence they encountered during the coverage of taxi services protests in Durban in October. Print and broadcast journalists and photographers were threatened by people who threw stones at them and their cars, some of which were damaged. Some were tear-gassed. Following one of the meetings a booklet was compiled, outlining how journalists and police officers should behave at crime or incident scenes, especially towards each other was compiled. The booklet is designed to fit into a person’s pocket so that it can be taken out and presented to the police or a reporter if there are complaints about one or the other misbehaving. On June 1 Sanef met with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department after a photographer and cameraman were abused by JMPD officers outside the