Tensions between the media and the EFF reached new heights last week Tuesday after Malema addressed a crowd gathered outside the venue of the commission of inquiry into state capture, in Parktown, Johannesburg.
The South African National Editors Forum, Sanef, is deeply concerned and disgusted by the labelling of certain prominent South African journalists and editors as “Stratcom agents” in a front page article published by all major Independent Media owned newspapers on Friday.
This is the second time in as many weeks that prominent journalists have been called “Stratcom agents” without any proof being provided by those making the accusations.
At issue this time is the unsuccessful listing of Sagarmatha Technologies on the JSE by the owners of Independent Media. The faces and names of South African journalists who have reported critically on this transaction are published alongside those of Vic McPherson and other masterminds of the apartheid state Stratcom operation whose main aim was to sow division and spread lies in the anti-apartheid movement. This led to the death of many activists and the manipulation of facts to suit the agenda of the oppressor.
Sanef believes to equate this unlawful and corrupt institution with the work of critical journalists playing their watchdog role in investigating private sector irregularities is not only defamatory but disgusting. This is a sad day for South African journalism.
The Independent Media Group has been a critical part of the media landscape for decades. Some of the finest journalism to come out of this country has been produced by journalists working on titles like The Star, Cape Times and The Mercury.
The orchestrated way in which all of the group’s newspapers published this defamatory piece today shows something else is at play, which purpose could not be to serve the public. Sanef will urgently engage our members at Independent Media to convey a deep concern about this unfair episode and gain a better understanding of the issues at play that are seemingly not serving journalism. Sanef will further write to the Public Investment Corporation board, a mainshare holder in Independent Media, to the tune of one billion rand in equity stakes, loans and converted debt to urgently express a deep concern about the lapse of journalistic principles and standards at this important voice in the media landscape.
The PIC invests money on behalf of government employees in projects to grow and strengthen democracy. We believe that labelling bonafide journalists “Stratcom agents” for investigating a private sector transaction fundamentally undermines this purpose. Sanef stands in solidarity with editors and journalists within the Independent Group who value editorial independence but are seemingly powerless to stop the publication of these stories.