Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 04-07-2017
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has filed an urgent application against Black First Land First (BLF) and its founder, Mr Andile Mngxitama, at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
Sanef has asked the court to interdict BLF and Mngxitama from harassing, intimidating, assaulting and threatening eleven senior journalists, editors and commentators that have been targeted for their reporting on state capture.
This follows a protest at the private house of Tiso Blackstar editor at large Peter Bruce last Thursday and the intimidation and harassment of Business Day editor Tim Cohen and political commentator Karima Brown at Bruce’s house.
BLF has since threatened more editors and journalists with similar protests at their private homes.
Sanef chairperson Mahlatse Gallens says the harassment of these journalists is “part and parcel” of an orchestrated campaign.
“Each one of the journalists are senior professionals who in their area of reporting expertise have reported to the nation, objectively and independently on the political state of the South African economy and the corruption and maladministration consequent upon the alleged capturing of the national economy to further the interests of an elite few.”
According to Gallens the purpose of the targeted harassment of these journalists is to keep allegations of corruption and state capture out of the public domain.
BLF and Mngxitama, will now have the opportunity to file answering papers before the matter is heard by the high court.
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