SANEF Condemns the Killing of Journalists in Gaza and Calls for an End to Attacks on the Media
04 April 2025
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is deeply concerned about the devastating news that two more journalists have been killed in Gaza.
Palestine TV correspondent Mohammed Mansour, his wife, and child were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in Khan Younis. This attack was reported on social media by 23-year-old Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat. Just over an hour later, Shabat himself was killed in Beit Lahia when a drone strike targeted his car.
Their deaths bring the total number of journalists and media workers killed in Gaza since October 2023 to a staggering 208. To put this into historical context, 69 journalists were killed in World War II, while 63 lost their lives during the Vietnam conflict. The current toll in Gaza is the highest recorded in any modern conflict, underscoring the extreme risks faced by journalists reporting from the region.
SANEF strongly condemns the targeting of journalists and media workers who risk their lives to provide accurate and impartial reporting. Journalists play a critical role in documenting the realities of war, holding power to account, and ensuring the world has access to credible information. The continued attacks on media personnel are a blatant assault on press freedom and a gross violation of international humanitarian law.
International humanitarian laws, including UN Security Council Resolution 2222/2015, stipulate that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel covering conflict situations must be protected as civilians.
We call on the international community, human rights organisations, and media advocacy groups to urgently intensify efforts to protect journalists working in conflict zones. We urge the South African government and international bodies to uphold and defend the fundamental right to free and independent journalism. Ends
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 by fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
For more information, please contact:
Makhudu Sefara – Chairperson (079) 177-2134
Tshamano Makhadi – Deputy Chairperson (082) 223-0621
Dr. Glenda Daniels – Secretary-General (083) 229-9708
Sbu Ngalwa – Treasurer-General (073) 404-1415
Slindile Khanyile – Media Freedom Chair (083) 471-0367
Katy Katopodis – Wellness and Safety Chair (082) 805-7022
Judy Sandison – KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
Rochelle De Kock – Eastern Cape Convenor (072) 969-8028
Sisanda Nkoala – Western Cape Convenor (073) 138 5564
Reggy Moalusi – Executive Director (071) 682-3695
Twitter: @SAEditorsForum
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sanef.org.za
