Death threats against SABC 8 ‘deplorable’

Sanef said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of death threats sent to a group of journalists, who have come to be known as the SABC 8.

Johannesburg - The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) on Monday said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of death threats sent to a group of journalists, who have come to be known as the “SABC 8”.

Sanef said in a statement that the Sunday Times was reporting that some members of the group had been threatened, intimidated, followed, have had their houses broken into and ransacked, car brakes tampered with and in one instance shot at with ceramic bullets.

“Sanef views these incidents as blatant and deplorable attacks on media freedom which should always be condemned in the strongest possible manner,” said the editors’ forum in a statement.

The journalists have asked the Constitutional Court to compel Parliament to hold an inquiry into anomalies they raised about the SABC, which include editorial interference from executives at the public broadcaster. The threats were meant to force them to drop the court action.

Sanef said it condemns such intimidation tactics and warned South Africans against making making such threats against journalists to desist from doing so.

The forum said it had always supported the actions and endeavours of the SABC 8, who have challenged their employer

African News Agency