The African National Congress (ANC) wants e.tv to help police arrest the criminals who threatened to rob Soccer World Cup tourists during interviews broadcast by the station recently.
The ANC also called on e.tv to do the “honourable” thing and withdraw the broadcast featuring the interviews with self-confessed criminals.
“These criminals are not only a threat to tourists, but to the dreams and desires of South Africa and Africa to host a successful Soccer World Cup,” the ANC said.
The party said that the criminals were a “threat to the stability of South Africa and to each individual citizen of our country”.
“It is for these reasons that these criminals and their ill intentions should be arrested.”
E.tv said on Tuesday that a man who killed himself in Soweto had set up the interviews with the criminals that prompted police to subpoena the television station.
The broadcast infuriated Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who accused the station of sensationalism and “harbouring” criminals, and prompted a debate about media freedom.
The police served subpoenas on eNews news editor Ben Said and reporter Mpho Lakaje in a bid to force them to reveal the identity of the two men, who appeared on air with their faces obscured.
Said and Lakaje must now appear in court next week unless they hand over unedited footage, the names and contact details of the men they interviewed, as well as information about the firearms shown in the programme.
“If e.tv does not safeguard the interests of the innocent people from all over the world … the interest and well-being of South Africans … they cannot be different from these criminals themselves”, ANC national spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in the statement.
“They cannot hide behind journalistic ethics and media freedoms on such a security threat to our country and our visitors. It is very unfortunate that we have a media in the country that glorifies and publicise[s] criminal intentions. The patriotism of such media is suspect,” he said.
The ANC reminded e.tv that the right to freedom of expression did not extend to the incitement of violence and criminality.
“The repeat broadcast of this footage promotes and justifies interests of criminals,” said Mthembu.
“Crime is one of the ANC’s foremost priorities, and the ANC will stop at nothing to make sure that we fully respond to any sign of discomfort caused by criminals. Anyone who does crime or harbours criminals is as equally involved in the perpetuation of crime,” he said.
The ANC reiterated that the World Cup would be safe and secure.
The South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies started security preparations in 2004 and were intensifying them in the run-up to the event, and were ready for any eventuality “including these criminals that were publicised by e.tv”, Mthembu said.
‘Fear tactics’
The safety of visitors to the Soccer World Cup is being questioned by “competitors”, who fear losing tourists, local organising committee (LOC) chairperson Irvin Khoza said on Tuesday.
“I’ve got a suspicion that the competitors of South Africa, they are creating this negative messaging … discouraging people coming to this country to see the beauty for the first time,” Khoza told the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
“South Africans must consistently and insistently communicate the message with confidence, because we are sure about what we are doing.”
British company Protektorvest has come under fire for offering stab-proof vests to tourists visiting the country in June and July.
On Monday the LOC described them as an “abominable money-making ploy using fear tactics”.
“Sport fans visiting South Africa have never needed stab vests. The marketing of such vests is a joke,” spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said.
“They will not and will never need them during the World Cup.”
The vests cost R510 and will be delivered free of charge to any hotel in Johannesburg or Pretoria. The company will also customise the vests with team or national emblems.
Mkhondo said at no time was the safety of about 20 000 English cricket fans — who came to watch the Test series between England and South Africa — questioned.
“Similarly, when the British and Irish Lion fans visited South Africa last year, once again no one expressed fears for their safety.”
Mkhondo said the LOC, police and the military had detailed security plans for the World Cup in place.
“We want to encourage fans travelling to South Africa to come here without any fear. They do not need any stab vests.” — Sapa