Private media journalists were denied coverage of the swearing-in ceremony of the members of Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly.
Today, MPs in Central Equatoria parliament took the oath of office in the presence of Governor Clement Wani Konga in Juba.An official in plain white uniform told Bakhita Radio that journalists who were late and without budges could not get into the state parliament.
During the course of negotiations, two journalists belonging to South Sudan Radio arrived and they were gently let in without further ado.
Freelance journalist Misuk Moses told Bakhita Radio that it was wrong for the state Assembly to invite private media houses and then bar them from covering the event.
He said private media is also working to inform the public.
Atem John from Liberty FM said the role of all media houses whether private or public is to inform the citizens.
He urged the Government to treat media houses equally and not to favour public media outlets at the expense of private media houses.
He questioned why the public South Sudan Radio was let in while the private media journalists were shut out.
Lagu Joseph from The Citizen newspaper said he was disappointed with the incident, complaining why the state South Sudan Radio was allowed to cover the event and the private media houses were not.
Mr. Lagu said the authorities are segregating private media journalists.
Gurtong, Juba Monitor, The Citizen, Daily Mentor, Liberty FM and Bakhita Radio were among the private media outlets denied access to Central Equatoria parliament. It was not clear whether Al Masir, Sudan Radio Service, Juba Post and Miraya were let in.