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SA National Editor's Forum chairperson Sbu Ngalwa.
- The SA National Editor's Forum has condemned the harassment and intimidation of journalists in the Eastern Cape.
- A senior journalist at the Daily Dispatch received an anonymous warning to watch out for hired hitmen.
- Sanef believes the threats relate to the journalist's reports on the killing of University of Fort Hare Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu's bodyguard, Mboneni Vesele.
The SA National Editor's Forum (Sanef) has condemned the harassment and intimidation of journalists covering stories in the Eastern Cape.
A senior journalist at the Daily Dispatch received an anonymous warning to "watch his back" for hired hitmen.
Sanef said the threats could be linked to his investigation of the murder of University of Fort Hare Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu's bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele.
Its chairperson, Sbu Ngalwa, added the publication removed the journalist from the story after receiving the threat.
In a separate incident in September, a female journalist for the Herald newspaper, also in the Eastern Cape, was forced to leave her home in KwaNokuthula Township after residents, who had fought with foreign nationals in Plettenberg Bay, intimidated her.
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Ngalwa said the publication removed her byline from stories for her protection.
He added the attacks on journalists violated their rights to report on public interest stories and equally infringed on the public's right to access information.
Earlier this month, News24 reported that Zululand Observer journalist Gaddafi Zulu was slapped and punched, allegedly by former Mtubatuba mayor Mandla Zungu and his bodyguards at the Mtubatuba Municipality.
He had gone there to interview council speaker Sbongile Shezi, after which he investigated reports the new administrator, Dr Siya Ntuli, had been prevented from entering the premises.
Zulu alleged the attackers approached him after he took pictures of the council speaker and asked if he had permission to shoot.
Ngalwa said attacks on journalists amounted to attacks on their rights to report on public interest stories.
He added:
Our democracy is enriched when journalists are allowed to report fearlessly, without intimidation. When this right is taken away from them, the victim is not simply the media. It is members of society who have a right to access information critical to the functioning of their country and democracy.
Ngalwa called on authorities to act against the perpetrators.
"We believe that justice would be served if law enforcement authorities were to send a strong message by arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators."
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