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Hands Off Journalists! SANEF Tells Crime Intelligence Division

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SANEF questioning the legality of the alleged surveillance of Journalists. Pic by Gouta Flikr.com

 

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) strongly condemns the threats, intimidation and bugging of investigative journalists by the Crime Intelligence division of the South African Police Service. SANEF calls on the SAPS to immediately cease the surveillance of journalists.

The latest journalist to be threatened is the Daily Maverick’s Marianne Thamm, who has become a target of a Crime Intelligence investigation into the leaking of documents. Thamm was the victim of a house burglary this week during which her work laptops were stolen. Other valuables were left untouched.

Thamm reported on documents that were submitted in court papers by former Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Peter Jacobs. The fact that the SAPS has confirmed a formal investigation into leakages to journalists is underway creating the unavoidable suspicion that Thamm’s break-in is linked to the investigation into her sources.

Thamm is in possession of internal communication from the SAPS confirming that her reporting on court papers by Jacobs is deemed as a “leak” to the media. When she challenged SAPS spokesperson Vish Naidoo about this, he responded as such: “The fact that this latest document was leaked to yourself reinforces the need to investigate these leaks, but this time with even greater urgency.”

This is nothing but a blatant threat to Thamm and other journalists that they will be investigated.

This comes after News24 journalist Jeff Wicks also received numerous reports from police sources that he was under surveillance by Crime Intelligence. Wicks and Thamm have reported extensively on the fallout in the upper echelons of Crime Intelligence.

News24 lawyer Willem de Klerk has written to the acting head of CI Lieutenant-General Yolisa Mokgabudi questioning the legality of the alleged surveillance of Wicks.

We welcome the undertaking by Mokgabudi to investigate the illegal bugging of the News24 journalist. It is an illegal act because Judge Bess Nkabinde, who is the designated judge charged with authorising legal interceptions in terms of the Regulation of Interception and Communication Act (RICA), has stated that she has not authorised the surveillance of a News24 journalist.

We hope that Mokgabudi’s investigation will not only focus on the illegal bugging, but also on the extent to which whistleblowers and the media’s sources have been compromised by the illegal activity.

This has undermined the rule of law and is a stark warning of the dangers to the democratic future promoted by the Constitution.

SANEF will write to Police Minister Bheki Cele and President Cyril Ramaphosa to request that the culprits who have abused their positions of power to order such illegal surveillance of journalists are seriously dealt with. We want to see Minister Cele bringing order within the Crime Intelligence division and stopping them from targeting journalists in any surveillance because journalists’ sources must be protected.

Wicks and Thamm are investigative journalists in the country covering the most volatile battle in the SAPS — within the Crime Intelligence division — who are targeted. The coverage of the contestation for power in the key Crime Intelligence division of the SAPS is in the public interest, considering the massive impact it has on the lives of the citizens of South Africa.

Journalists cannot keep quiet and not investigate members of the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies because of the potential to enable a criminal underworld to thrive and survive across South Africa.

It is not by accident that about 40 senior SAPS members, including former National Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and Deputy Police Commissioner Bonang Mgwenya, are facing criminal charges and that Richard Mdluli, the former Crime Intelligence head is behind bars. The brave work of journalists contributed to this.

Journalists must continue to hold the country’s law enforcement to account if leaders are acting outside the law. By covering the battle at the top and probe the state of the SAPS, journalists are contributing towards bringing stability in the lives of ordinary SAPS members so that they can focus on fighting crime, instead of suffering at the hands of intransigent and corrupt leaders.

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.

For more information please contact:

  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
  • Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
  • Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary General (083) 399-2852
  • Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – (082) 610 9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
  • Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

Safety & Wellness

SANEF Calls On SAPS to Ensure The Protection and Safety of a Journalist Forced to go into Hiding

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is deeply concerned that community media journalist, Paul Nthoba, has been forced to flee the country and seek refuge in Lesotho.

Nthoba was assaulted by members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) on 15 May 2020 while profiling the visibility of police members who were making sure that citizens were adhering to the Covid-19 lockdown rules and regulations. He was physically abused and beaten up in the township of Meqheleng, close to the Lesotho border.

Following this traumatic incident, Nthoba went to the Ficksburg police station to lay a charge but instead of being assisted by the police, he faced further abuse.

While at the police station, the same police officers that had assaulted him, arrived and wanted to bar him from opening a case, and instead they insisted that he should be charged for contravening the Disaster Management Act. We understand Nthoba was further assaulted while in the charge office.

Nthoba told SANEF that he decided to cross the border into Lesotho to seek refuge at the United Nations offices in Lesotho because he feared for his life.  Following the assault, he has seen marked police vehicles patrolling his street and another parked in the street a few meters from his home, with no explanation. His family became extremely concerned and he decided to flee.

He reached out to the United Nations office in Lesotho and the Lesotho government and together they have been protecting him. He has been placed under quarantine due to the Coronavirus restrictions.

The same SAPS officers who assaulted him, remain on duty.

Nthoba has confirmed that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), an agency of the South African government responsible for investigating complaints against the SAPS and municipal police services, came to see him on Monday.  He was in the process of completing his supplementary and detailed statement for IPID when he observed the intimidatory tactics of the SAPS officers.

Nthoba has pleaded for assurance from the SAPS that he will be safe.

SANEF Chairperson Mahlatse Mahlase said: “We need the Police to give assurance that he can return home and will be safe. It is unacceptable that a South African citizen must fear the very people who are supposed to protect him.   We would also like to know what action the SAPS will be taken against the police officers that remain on duty in the small town”.

Finally, SANEF has been in contact with the Minister of Police and has also formally written to him. He has assured us that he will take this matter up with the national and provincial police commissioners to ensure that this issue is dealt with as a matter of urgency.

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.

For more information please contact:

  • Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEF Chairperson, (083) 399-2852
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 805-7022
  • Moipone Malefane – SANEF Secretary General (082) 772-5861
  • Mary Papayya – Acting SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (073) 404-1415
  • Janet Heard – SANEF Western Cape SANEF Convenor, (078) 041-9528
  • Hopewell Radebe – SANEF Acting Gauteng Regional Convenor (083) 582-1734
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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SANEF and SAFREA Call on Law Enforcement Members (SAPS, Metro Police and Army) to Stop Their Hostility and Harassment of Journalists

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and the South African Freelancers’ Association (SAFREA) condemn another hostile attack against journalists.

Cape Town freelance journalist, Jacques Marais has informed us of how he was sworn at, his life was threatened and how he was ultimately prevented from covering a lockdown story on Thursday, 9 April 2020, he was doing in Masiphumelele township, in the south of the City.

Marais states, “Yesterday I was following a convoy of a dozen police vehicles and an army Casper vehicle into the warren of alleys and shacks that shapes Masi township on the border of the industrial sprawl of Fish Eagle Park. I saw the police and soldiers spill from their vehicles and descend in droves on pedestrians jostling the pavements… I have blurry images that show the police with sticks beating a man.” Marais has shared these pictures with SANEF.

Marais then told SANEF that a police vehicle blocked his car as he followed the convoy further into the township. He pulled over to the side of the road and continued to travel on foot while wearing a clearly official and identifiable press bib. He also held up his camera explaining to one officer that he was a journalist and had his permit, accreditation and his media card. However, the situation got ugly as he reached into his vehicle for his media card.

Marais states, “My vehicle door slammed into my back. I turned around and two men in plain clothes, clearly visible in my photos as part of the police operation, then started shouting and brandishing 1.2m-long wooden clubs. Both men’s faces were covered in buffs and I was cursed and threatened for the next couple of minutes”.

Marais reports that his media accreditation was hurled back into his vehicle and when he asked one of the men for his name, the man lifted his club and told me to “* or you will die here today”. At that point, Marais left the township with his story unfinished. He stated, “I shudder to think what happened when I turned my back and walked away.”

SANEF and SAFREA believe that this action by law enforcement officers is wholly unacceptable and unlawful – both as regards the media and South African citizens. We deplore the security forces violence against citizens – these actions fly in the face of all lockdown regulations in place and stand in direct contradiction of our Constitution.

SANEF will make sure that this incident, along with all other incidents of hostility and harassment, is tabled with the National Police Commissioner, Khehla Sitole the Ministry of Police, Bheki Cele, and the Cape Town metro police. Our planned meeting with these parties was halted due to the Covid-19 lockdown but we will now be seeking urgent on-line meetings – within the lockdown rules – to demand that all law enforcement and army personnel be reminded of their role to protect communities and to allow the media to play their critical role of informing the public. We will, once again, strongly remind them that this is a right enshrined and protected in our constitution and one that must be adhered to under the COVID-19 lockdown rules.

Freelancers are particularly vulnerable, without media house backing so we urge them to report any incidents to SANEF, SAFREA or to the freelance organisation, ProJourn so we can take these matters up.

Finally, we would like to highlight the issue of journalists’ safety. We refer all journalists and media organisations to the safety tips including on our SANEF website.

We also call on all media organisations to ensure, wherever possible, that they provide trauma counselling for journalists who have been out on assignment. We reiterate the long-term damaging effects of untreated trauma. We have compiled a list of trauma and psychological services for journalists that can be accessed on our website.

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 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.

SAFREA is a voluntary, non-profit association for professional media freelancers in southern Africa.

 

For more information:

  • Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEF Chairperson, (083) 399-2852
  • Katy Katopodis – Acting SANEF Chairperson, (082) 805-7022
  • Moipone Malefane – SANEF Secretary-General (082) 772-5861
  • Mary Papayya – Acting SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (073) 404-1415
  • Janet Heard – SANEF Western Cape SANEF Convenor (078) 041-9528
  • Hopewell Radebe – SANEF Acting Gauteng Regional Convenor (083) 582-1734
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

 

Lynne Smit, SAFREA Chairperson (083) 299-7383

Thea Aboud, SAFREA administrator [email protected] Web: www.safrea.co.za