South Africa: Silence rules – government spokespersons need to take their job more seriouslySilence rules – government spokespersons should take their job more seriously

Dealing with government spokespersons is a source of intense frustration for reporters. Being unresponsive or providing poor responses has become the norm.

Here’s a typical example:

On 20 June, a freelancer reporting for GroundUp wrote to health department spokesperson Doctor Tshwale about the National Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan. He asked three straightforward questions.

Having had no reply 10 days later — 30 June — the reporter sent the same email to Foster…