The SA National Editors Forum (Sanef) has warned against what it sees as a trend of disciplinary proceedings being instituted against staff who criticise conditions where they work.

It said on Wednesday it had learnt that professors Nithaya Chetty and John van den Berg faced such proceedings for talking to the media about University of KwaZulu-Natal vice chancellor professor Malegapuru Makgoba.

They reportedly alleged that he had blocked consideration of a Faculty of Science and Agriculture document on the state of academic freedom at the university.

The professors have been charged with failing to exercise due care in communicating with the media, and for having released confidential senate information.

They were also being accused of dishonesty and/or gross negligence.

Sanef said in a statement it was worried about the effects of such proceedings would have on media freedom.

Another concern was the impact of this on access to and the dissemination of information about conduct in public institutions.

Comment from the University of KwaZulu-Natal could not be immediately obtained.

Sanef said there had been other cases where employees had been punished for speaking to the media about matters related to their employment conditions.

"One result is that employees stop voicing their complaints — leading to an unacceptable drying up of sources of information and thus public interest issues being kept secret."

Sapa