The South Africa National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has expressed ”alarm” at the apparent attempted assassination of a newspaper editor and her photographer husband in Muldersdrift last month.
”Though it has no evidence that this was an assassination attempt, the fact that Media24 has taken precautions based on that assumption requires the media industry to sound a stern warning against violent acts against journalists,” Sanef said in a statement on Tuesday.
”Sanef also calls on the police to bring the perpetrators to justice,” it said.
Media 24 had provided Noord-Son editor Estee Booyens with bodyguards since the attack on August 29. It had also arranged for her accommodation in a ”safe house” and called in a private detective to investigate, Sanef said.
A shot was fired through a window of Booysen’s farm home, hitting her pillow, at 1.30am on August 29.
Her husband, David Wessels, leaped out of bed and smashed the window with a punch that knocked out the gunman, but an accomplice picked up the gun and again opened fire on the couple as they ran to the kitchen.
The attackers fled when Wessels threw cups plates and other kitchen utensils at the kitchen’s glass door.
”Suspicion that the motive was either assassination or a death threat was aroused when the men made no attempt to enter the house or take anything,” Sanef said.
”There was a car in the driveway and goods in boxes on the stoep. These were left untouched.”
The next night a guard at the house saw two men walking around the property.
”Noord-Son is a combative tabloid and has launched strong attacks on aspects of government policy, police inefficiency, the crime rate, violence and attacks on children,” Sanef said.
It was concerned that anger at media exposés ”could be taken to extremes”.
Sanef has also described as appalling the attempt on the life of exiled Zimbabwean editor Abel Mutsakani in Johannesburg on July 23. Mutsakani, who writes for ZimOnline, was critically wounded when he was shot. — Sapa