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Phathiswa Magopeni

Safety & Wellness

SANEF Calls for an Investigation Into Death Threats Directed at SABC Journalists

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On 11th December 2021, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) calls on law-enforcement agencies to investigate and arrest the callous criminals threatening the lives of SABC’s Lesedi FM journalists for covering the local government elections in the Free State Province.

SANEF has learnt with great dismay of a message sent to Lesedi FM News’ Current Affairs Senior Producer Dimakatso Motsoeneng where she received death threats including unprintable violence against her children too. Motsoeneng’s colleagues Palesa Chubisi and Lahliwe Matsoso also received similar threats.

These criminals accused the journalists and the LesediFM news team of being responsible for the ANC’s defeat at the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality and Metsimaholo Local Municipality.

SANEF notes with grave concern that this incident comes on the back of Transport Minister and ANC’s head of elections Fikile Mbalula’s baseless attack on the SABC for its coverage of the November elections.

Mbalula, who claimed the SABC never showed the good side of the ANC by focusing on poor service delivery, not only blamed the public broadcaster for the ANC’s dismal performance at the polls but he also singled out and attacked SABC Editor-in-Chief & Group Executive: SABC News & Current Affairs Ms Phathiswa Magopeni.

SANEF believes that the ANC should also do its own investigation and distance itself from these criminals using the governing party’s name.

The party should also rein in its leaders who have publicly attacked the SABC as such behaviour encourages cyberbullying by party members and their followers, particularly on social media.

The attacks are particularly harsh on women journalists with additional risks that range from sexual harassment, cyber-harassment to rape threats and even murder threats

We also believe that these attacks show disregard for the important role that journalists play in bringing news to the people, especially during this election period.

Anyone with a complaint about a story or broadcast should submit this to the BCCSA or the Press Council where it would be fairly and independently adjudicated.

We remain concerned about the impact of these attacks on the media’s ability to represent all voices in storytelling and ensure that all voices are heard. Many areas in the country are increasingly becoming dangerous hot spots to report from as several reporting crews have been robbed attacked.

SANEF believes that the safety of journalists is intertwined with the general safety and wellbeing of communities whose stories they are out to cover. Lack of safety compromises the working environment of journalists as well as their livelihoods. It also threatens media freedom.

We reiterate our call on law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute the criminals who attack or threaten journalists. These attacks place enormous physical and emotional burdens on journalists who are already exposed to severe constraints under a deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Without journalists focusing on the plight of communities, local government stories will go unreported.

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
  • Makhudu Sefara – Acting SANEF Media Freedom Chair 079 177 2134
  • 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
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695

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Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

Diversity and Ethics (2)

SANEF Calls for Transparency and a Fair Process on the SABC’s Disciplinary Process Against Its Editor-in-chief

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On 27 November 2021, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has learnt of the SABC’s decision to bring disciplinary action against its head of news Phathiswa Magopeni for alleged negligence and bringing the public broadcaster into disrepute.

These developments come on the back of political pressure and attacks on Magopeni – from the ANC, who accuse her of being the cause of the governing party’s poor electoral performance in the recent Local Government Elections.

While we are not saying that those two issues are related, however, the timing raises eyebrows and suspicions of a possible politically motivated witch-hunt.

The SABC has the responsibility to investigate the violation of a court order after an episode of the investigative programme Special Assignment was aired, six weeks after the court ordered that it should not be broadcast.

The media is not above the law, and court decisions must be respected. Any responsible company would do that.

We understand that the public broadcaster was interdicted on 14 September by the North Gauteng High Court from airing and/or broadcasting and/or publishing a Special Assignment investigative report exposing alleged anti-competitive conduct in the towing industry. While the interdict was still in force, the episode was broadcast a month and a half later, in breach of the court order. The public broadcaster is facing a contempt of court order and possible imprisonment of those who took the decision

SANEF does not condone the breach of the court interdict and always advocates for respect for the court processes in this country.

That is why we are calling for openness in the handling of the matter. Given that the waters have been muddied by the blatant political attacks on Magopeni and the SABC, over their coverage of the 1 November elections, we call on the SABC management to make Magopeni’s hearing public, in the interests of transparency. This will assist to dispel any perception that the process is a witch-hunt aimed at achieving political ends.

Magopeni has been the subject of personal attacks from some ANC leaders, including the recent criticism by Transport minister and ANC’s head of elections Fikile Mbalula.

The SABC is too important to fail or to find itself dragged back to the dark days of political control and manipulation.

It is only fair that the SABC management demonstrates to all South Africans that their actions are motivated by nothing other than the need to ensure that the good name of the public broadcaster is not dragged through the mud.

We will keenly follow this case to its natural conclusion.

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
  • 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
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695
Safety & Wellness

SANEF Condemns Hostile Attack On SABC News Crew

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) condemns another hostile attack against journalists by police at the scene of service delivery protests outside Port Elizabeth. Yesterday morning a team of journalists from the South African Broadcasting Services (SABC), although clearly identified, came under attack by riot police and were pelted with rubber bullets.

According to SABC Editor in Chief Ms Phathiswa Magopeni:

“We were informed by our regional editor, Diedre Uren that at 9 am yesterday our team, Zolani Moya and Gcobani Blom,  were at the Motherwell intersection on the Addo Road outside Port Elizabeth covering a story about service delivery protests, when they came under fire from the police”. The protests had been taking place on and off for most of the week.

“They were covering the blocking of the roads”, says Magopeni. “The crew was clearly identifiable in a SABC branded bakkie. The cameraman was on the back of the bakkie filming when the radio reporter noticed an oncoming ‘Hippo’ riot vehicle. They immediately jumped down and tried to get into the vehicle to leave the area. The community was around them but peaceful.”

Says Magopeni, “Our vehicle was not blocking the road as it was parked on the side of the road. But police without warning started firing rubber bullets and as our team tried to flee, they were shot at and injured”.

Both journalists were taken to the hospital and received treatment. Fortunately, they are now stable.

Magopeni states, “This attack was unnecessary and extremely hostile. Every care is taken to train our journalists on what to do in hostile situations. They are told to clearly identify themselves which they did. It is a brazen attack that must be investigated at the very highest level of the police leadership”.

SANEF will table this matter at its upcoming meeting with the National Police Commissioner and the Ministry of Police. The attacks and assaults on journalists at crime scenes by police, and the censorship by police of journalists doing their job at crime scenes are on the increase. These actions prevent journalists from informing the public of the truth, a right enshrined and protected in our constitution. Service delivery protests are a common feature in our country and journalists have a right and a duty to covering these stories. The officer responsible must be held accountable.

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, education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

  • Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEF Chairperson, (083) 399-2852
  • Mary Papayya – Acting SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor 0825713334
  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (073) 404-1415
  • Janet Heard – SANEF Western Cape SANEF Convenor, 0780419528
  • Hopewell Radebe – SANEF Acting Gauteng Regional Convenor 083 582 1734
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – 082 926 6404