The Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards remind us of the important role that journalism plays in South Africa’s democracy.
The Awards are a benchmark of the best journalists, their stories and the concerns that they write for.
And while locally, and across the globe, the journalism profession has been under pressure from budgets to model changes as well as threats to journalists not only in war zones but in all societies, the industry continues to raise the issues and expose the corrupt pertinent to their countries.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), which hosted the Awards for the first time in 2021, with sponsor Standard Bank, will acknowledge and honour the bravery of journalists and their stories at a live event at The Venue, Melrose Arch this Saturday, 24 June.
Standard Bank CEO, Lungisa Fuzile, and various media stakeholders and journalists were all in attendance.
Last year SANEF Chairperson, Sbu Ngalwa, said, “We are now seeing green shoots and can build.”
Also at the event last year, Standard Bank CEO, Lungisa Fuzile Fuzile said that the pandemic robbed the country of some of the best journalists in this country as he paid tribute to he industry.
Veteran editor Anthony Heard was honoured with the Allan Kirkland Soga: Lifetime Achiever Award, in 2021. He said that very few other institutions in society have the capacity to effect major change like the journalism industry can.
Campaign for Freedom of Expression, Media Monitoring Africa and the South African National Editors Forum welcome the dismissal of Zuma’s case against Downer / Maughan
The judgment handed down today in the Pietermaritzburg High Court is an overwhelming win for media freedom and freedom of expression in South Africa!
The judge’s action in throwing out former President Jacob Zuma’s case against journalist Karyn Maughan is a victory for all of journalism, as it reinforces the right of reporters to be free to do their job of covering important court cases without hindrance or harassment. Zuma’s attack on a journalist has been decisively slapped down. Maughan was collateral damage in Zuma’s “Stalingrad” strategy to delay his trial and deflect from the accusations against him – and Maughan should be commended for standing firm against this onslaught.
A few other interesting points emerge from the judgment. Firstly, how flimsy the accusations made by Zuma and his lawyers against Maughan were; secondly, how Zuma’s family and supporters have relentlessly trolled Maughan online; thirdly, that the judgment strengthens the argument that we have to guard against SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) cases.
We entered this case to argue that it should be considered a SLAPP case – one that is intended not to serve justice but to silence a journalist or critic, and we urged the court to protect against this. This judgment has done so. We welcome the specific clause [192], which states “If one accepts the submissions of Maughan relating to the relief she seeks in the application to interdicts the Respondent, then we agree with the first to third amici that the Respondent’s private prosecution of Maughan has all the elements of a SLAPP suit in that, it relates to her obligations as a journalist to report on matters in the public interest. It infringes on her right to freedom of expression, specifically, press freedom and the public’s right to receive such information. It has the effect of intimidating, harassing and silencing her as its ulterior motive and for reasons already mentioned in the judgment, the prosecution lacks prospects of success. If one accepts Maughan’s submissions, then she has demonstrated that the Respondent’s private prosecution has been instituted for the sole purpose of silencing her and not to vindicate a right”. The clause also stands in clear alignment with the Special Rapporteur 2023 Joint declaration on SLAPP suits.
The court didn’t just accept Maughan’s submissions it also awarded costs against Mr Zuma.
We also welcome the precedent-setting comments in the judgment that amici do not have to be completely neutral in their contributions.
As we move into our election period in the lead up to the 2024 National Elections, this judgment stands as a shining defence of media freedom and a warning for those who wish to silence and intimidate journalists and media.
For further information or comment, contact:
Campaign for Freedom of Expression: Anton Harber [[email protected], +27833039497]
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) celebrates World Press Freedom Day today noting that our country is a home to a free nation that respects media rights and freedom of expression. Globally however, there is now more red on the world press freedom map today – indicating a serious situation for journalists, according to Reporters without Borders (RSF). Today’s World Press Freedom Day is themed by Unesco as: Shaping a future of Rights: freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.
SANEF is pleased that South Africa ranked twenty-five out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom index by Reporters without Borders released today – which is ten places up from last year’s position of 35. The index measures how free journalists are to do their job in a particular country. Number one was Norway and last was North Korea. In Africa, the best country was Namibia (22), and the worst was Eritrea.
The most important measure for world press Freedom Day index was the ability of journalists to publish news in the public interest without interference and without threats to their own safety.
Fake news – as in propaganda, disinformation, misinformation – as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) threaten press freedom worldwide, the RSF report says.
“The difference is being blurred between true and false, real and artificial, facts and artifices, jeopardising the right to information,” the report said. “The unprecedented ability to tamper with content is being used to undermine those who embody quality journalism and weaken journalism itself.”
Artificial intelligence was “wreaking further havoc on the media world,” the RSF report said, with AI tools “digesting content and regurgitating it in the form of syntheses that flout the principles of rigour and reliability.”
While SA’s spot at number 25 still remains better than many western and northern countries, for e.g. the US (45) and the UK (27) in the rankings, this is not to say that the situation has improved in South Africa. Rather it is an indication that press freedom around the world has decreased as the indicators show.
Sanef in SA condemns the attacks on journalists by some political parties, law enforcement agencies, and some communities. There has been a growing trend of online threats targeting journalists, especially women journalists, using hate speech, death threats, and threats of physical harm. There have been trends of trolling and doxing, (the act of disclosing a journalist’s full name, address, contact number, and other identifying details without their consent). Threats to women journalists have also been pervasive, including attacks and threats on journalists’ families, death threats, and threats of rape. We also note concerns about the surveillance of journalists by state intelligence as well as overly punitive legislation that targets journalists or limits their ability to report in all media platforms.
In a joint statement on 2nd May 2023, Csaba Korosi, President of the United Nations General Assembly and Santiago Irazabal Mourão, President of UNESCO General Conference, stated that: “Journalists and media workers make indispensable contribution to the protection of human rights for all peoples… It is time to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference. The safety of journalists and media workers must be considered an integral part of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and key to countering disinformation, including in conflict settings,” the statement said.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is concerned by the growing lack of responses to media queries, by government spokespeople. Recently we have been receiving complaints from journalists about the failure of spokespeople, to either reply to questions or to provide useful information – when approached for comment. This tendency seems to be worsening.
It is not a choice or optional for the government to communicate properly. It is required by the Constitution. Section 195 of the Constitution deals with the values and principles governing public administration. It states: “Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible, and accurate information”.
Previously, SANEF has engaged the Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) to raise this issue. Seemingly, there is no progress being made here as spokespersons continue to disregard journalists’ requests for comments, clarity, or information.
Furthermore, government departments employ spokespeople/communicators to communicate accurately and timeously with the media. When they fail to do so, taxpayers’ money is wasted, and South Africans are left none the wiser. It is disdainful for departments to choose not to respond to questions, despite being given ample time to do so.
We call on the acting head of the GCIS, Michael Currin, cabinet ministers and MECs to instruct their departmental spokespersons to respond to media queries promptly and transparently.
Below are a few examples shared by GroundUp on how spokespersons failed to do their jobs recently:
GroundUp article on pit latrines in schools, four of the nine provincial education spokespeople failed to respond.
GroundUp article on escaped convict Thabo Bester :the Department of Home Affairs, the Gauteng Department of Transport, and the South African Police Service all failed to respond to questions.
GroundUp article on asylum seekers was published after two Home Affairs spokespeople failed to respond to questions for a week.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and various civil society organisations will on Wednesday picket in support of Karyn Maughan as she seeks to have the private prosecution matter brought by former president, Jacob Zuma, struck off the roll.
Maughan seeks to stop the private prosecution against her, a move SANEF supports. Maughan is a journalist, who was doing her job, something that Zuma and his legal team refuse to accept. Maughan’s constitutional rights have been abused by this private prosecution.
Media freedom is paramount in our constitutional democracy, hence there is a need to defend it all the time. SANEF will be outside the court on Wednesday to show solidarity with Maughan.
Various civil society organisations have indicated their support for SANEF and Maughan, as they see the importance of upholding media freedom and allowing journalists to freely do their work. All organisations are united against this targeting and attempt to intimidate Maughan.
SANEF will always speak out against anyone seeking to silence journalists. SANEF believes in the ability of our judiciary to spot any abuses of the courts, which we believe is what this private prosecution is doing.
Women journalists, such as Maughan, face vicious attacks online where they are harassed and bullied. We have also noted how gender-based violence is evident in various spaces and online, where women are body-shamed and called all kinds of names.
SANEF notes the social media charter that was recently launched by the SA Human Rights Commission, which we hope would assist in deterring bullies that use social media for their nefarious agendas.
While we note the launch of the charter, we have unfortunately seen little action being taken by the prosecution authorities on this.
SANEF supports the view that the charges have no merits and should be dismissed as such. We will continue to support Maughan, and we are hopeful of a positive outcome in court.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is seriously troubled by the endless delays in the appointment of the new SABC board, despite Parliament’s recommendations of prospective qualifying candidates to do the job.
We note with concern reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has blamed Parliament and the Constitutional Court that he could not make appointments on the basis of an “unlawful decision” emanating from the legislature’s 15-candidate list sent to him last year.
The President filed his answering affidavit to the apex court in the legal challenge launched by interest groups, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and the SOS Coalition. The two organisations want the Constitutional Court to force President Ramaphosa to appoint the board. The public broadcaster has been without a board of directors for five months and this poses a threat to the public broadcaster’s operations, among other essential obligations that require the board’s approval and governance processes.
SANEF also notes reports that the former communications and digital technologies minister, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, had contributed to these delays after she questioned the inclusion of the broadcaster’s former head of news, Phathiswa Magopeni, in the list of candidates recommended by Parliament. Parliament had thoroughly interrogated her recommendation to serve on the board and concluded that she was an appropriate candidate.
SANEF wishes to appeal to President Ramaphosa to prioritise the finalisation of the SABC board appointment. We support the concerns raised by our media freedom advocacy partners that the absence of a board places the SABC at risk of insolvency that will undermine the great progress of stabilising the public broadcaster that the previous board made.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The development and growth of science journalism in South Africa is critical to advance scientific literacy and a critically engaged society. The recent pandemic highlighted the need for accurate, accessible and up-to-date science content. Currently there are a limited number of science journalists in the mainstream media in South Africa.
In order to develop science journalism in South Africa, the South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF), in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), a business unit of the National Research Foundation and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) are launching Science Journalism Internship Programme. This great initiative will support mainstream media in South Africa.
“There is significant potential for growth in the quantity and impact of science coverage both in mainstream media and community media in South Africa. Many dedicated science journalists who previously specialised in the science and technology beat are no longer working full time for the mainstream media and some of the science desks have been discontinued,” says SAASTA Managing Director, Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia.
“Many science journalists are working as freelancers and in a community media the availability of science journalism capacity is even lower,” she added.
Some of the challenges that have been identified in research studies on science journalism in South Africa have included: the lack of investment and budget of media organisation to support science journalism, the industry being under-resourced in terms of science journalism skills, the complexity of the relationship between scientists and journalists, and the low appetite for publishing and buying science news articles, amongst others.
“The demand for honest and trustworthy scientific news stories has been more pronounced since the outbreak of Covid-19. South Africans had trust that journalists would dig and find accurate information about the plague and educate intended audiences as they researched more about the virus. As SANEF, we believe it is time the media reinvest in the education and growth of scientific writers in this country,” said Sbu Ngalwa SANEF Chairman.
The internship programme will be roll out in phases and in phase one, the interns will be placed within the SABC. The successful applicants will work in SABC newsrooms across the country, to produce science, technology and innovation stories for broadcasts and online media.
The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement will also partner with other media outlets including Media24, Newsroom Afrika and EWN. The aim is to partner with multiple the mainstream media outlets through this initiative and in 2023 the internship will be expanded to even add more mainstream media outlets in South Africa.
In 2016 SAASTA signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Media Development and Diversity Agency to introduce a similar science journalism developmental programme in the community media space. The project has continuously enhanced the science journalism capacity in the community media in all nine provinces, as it has been rare for the community media to cover science and technology stories in the past. This project currently has community media partners in all nine provinces and currently employs twenty-eight science journalism volunteers. The aim is to expand it to have community media partners in every district municipality in the country.
ENDS
About SANEF
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
About the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA):
SAASTA is a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF) with the mandate to advance public awareness, appreciation and engagement of science, engineering and technology in South Africa. SAASTA’s contribution to the NRF’s vision is to grow the pool of quality learners today who will become the scientists and innovators of tomorrow. It aims to be the leading science advancement agency in the country by promoting and communicating the value and impact of science, technology and innovation in a dynamic knowledge economy. It also intends to contribute significantly towards building a science, engineering and technology (SET) human resource base. For more information on the operations and programs within the NRF please visit www.saasta.ac.za
About the National Research Foundation (NRF):
The National Research Foundation (NRF) was established on 1 April 1999 as an independent statutory body in accordance with the National Research Foundation Act. The NRF is a key public entity responsible for supporting the development of human resources for research and innovation in all fields of science and technology. The organisation is one of the major players in educating and training a new generation of scientists able to deal with South African and African needs. The organisation encourages public awareness and appreciation of science, engineering and technology, and facilitates dialogue between science and society. Its vision is to contribute to a prosperous South Africa based on a knowledge economy. For more information on the operations and programs within the NRF please visit www.nrf.ac.za
Rapid technological advancement has impacted the media landscape extensively over the last few years forcing newsrooms to actively seek ways to adapt. Taking advantage of new technologies, the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) is partnering with Project Management Institute (PMI) to make available a revolutionary digital-based course to upskill and reskill journalists. This is PMI’s contribution to support innovation and digital transformation in the South African news media.
The Citizen Developer (CD) course will benefit 25 up-and-coming multimedia and community journalists. What sets this course apart is its distinctive relevance to a sector that needs to rapidly pioneer changes to transform the way it tells stories and engages with audiences. The onset of lockdowns in 2020 hastened the need to embrace technology in a way that bridges the worlds of traditional media and an always-on marketplace. The CD course is a welcome intervention to develop and enhance digital skills in the news media.
SANEF Chairperson, Sbu Ngalwa, says, “There is a clear need to create versatile channels and approaches for journalists to enhance their craft. We’re therefore pleased to partner with PMI on this first-of-its-kind initiative. It is a progressive step towards ensuring that the industry continues to adapt, evolve, and grow.”
Research highlights the need for rapid innovation in the news media across the country. According to Sortlist, the average South African spends 10 hours online on their smartphones every day for work, general browsing, and social media. That means journalists need more than just having an engaging online presence but become platform creators. Journalists selected for the CD course will be upskilled in the creation of applications software using low code / no code platforms.
PMI is pleased to support SANEF’s efforts to drive digital transformation in the news media sector. “We are delighted to be part of this initiative to empower journalists with skills to unleash their creative potential and transform the sector. We look forward to seeing innovative ways of creating and sharing stories,” said George Asamani, MD of sub-Saharan Africa at PMI.
SANEF will soon issue an invitation to journalists to apply for the opportunity as well as admission requirements and the selection process.
For more information please contact:
Reggy Moalusi Usman Aly
SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695 PMI regional communication lead for sub- Saharan Africa 0832298538
SANEF leadership are joined by Chief Executive: Brand Sanlam, Sydney Mbhele and Ma Gladys Maphumulo at the unveiling of the Nat Nakasa Grave Image: Dzudzie Faith Netshisaulu
The South African National Editors’ Forum in partnership with Sanlam today calls for the restoration of humanity and dignity in our country as it unveiled, for the second time, the tombstone of anti-apartheid activist, journalist Nathaniel Nat Nakasa.
SANEF has undertaken this task of mobilising resources to rebuild the tombstone after it was vandalised in 2021, alongside that of former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa. The EThekwini Municipality had promised to restore the graves but had not done so until our intervention.
SANEF chairman Sbu Ngalwa says: “As SANEF, we could not just fold our arms and shrug our shoulders. Nat spent many years in exile, longing for a home that he was not allowed to return to. At some point he referred to himself as ‘a native from nowhere’. When we led the project to have his remains brought back to South Africa in 2014, it was also about restoring his dignity and closing a sad chapter in our dark history. Restoring this grave, after the vandalism, is to make sure that this important history of South African journalism and its heritage is preserved.
“We therefore thank Sanlam for coming on board and assisting us to rebuild Nakasa’s tombstone”
Sydney Mbhele Chief Executive: Brand Sanlam says: “Sanlam has partnered with SANEF an organization that champions media freedom and the work that they do for the protection of journalists. We saw it befitting as an organization coming from the private sector to continue to support this initiative of restoring the tombstone and the grave of Nat Nakasa. A man who was deeply connected with our history and legacy. By honouring and remembering him in this way, we are perpetuating his vision to ensure that justice is the cornerstone of what our country represents.
SANEF chairperson Sbu Ngalwa and Executive Director, Reggy Moalusi at the unveiling Image: Dzudzie Netshisaulu
This was a man whose writing skills played a pivotal role in the liberation of South African people. Therefore, an organization like ours that lives and operates among people believes it is important to partner with communities and non-profit organisations in areas where we can be able to evolve our history as a country and allow the future generations to be able to learn and be inspired by it.”
Nat’s only surviving sister Ma-Gladys Maphumulo says: “I am very grateful to both SANEF and Sanlam for this wonderful work. I have knocked at many doors to get my brother’s tombstone rebuilt and I failed. What out people are doing in desecrating tombstones is shocking and unfortunate. One wonders what has become of our wonderful nation. I also hope the Ethekwini Municipality will do its best to restore the dignity of graves such as Senzo Meyiwa who lies next to my brother Nat.
SANEF is troubled by the growing disregard of grave sites around the country. We believe that South Africa is better than this and its citizens do respect the final resting place for our loved ones.
We therefore appeal to all municipalities to restore the dignity of graveyards and properly protect gravesites from vandals and thieves.
Background:
Nat, whose legacy is celebrated in SANEF’s annual Nat Nakasa Courageous Journalism award, died in Upstate New York in 1965.
At the time he was on a one-way visa in the US, on a Nieman Scholarship, to escape threats to his life under the apartheid regime. SANEF, together with the Nakasa family and a range of stakeholders, worked tirelessly for years to bring the remains back to his childhood suburb of Chesterville outside Durban.
In 2014 his remains were returned to SA for reburial at the Chesterville cemetery Hero Acres site, a fulfilment of his last wish to return home to the country where he was born.
Nakasa paid a high price for his sacrifices, and everything must be done to restore his final resting place. SANEF has contacted the municipality division that was responsible for the reburial as well as the eThekwini municipality in the hope that the gravesites can be properly restored and bring comfort to all.
SANEF calls on the eThekwini Municipality to ensure better security at the Hero Acres as such vandalism cannot be allowed with criminals running amok and there is no prosecution.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
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In 2014 his remains were returned to SA for reburial at the Chesterville cemetery Hero Acres site, a fulfilment of his last wish to return home to the country where he was born.