Jacque Pauw
The South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF) is deeply concerned and disappointed by the ethical breaches in the opinion piece by veteran investigative journalist Jacques Pauw, published by the Daily Maverick last Friday.
This development highlights the bitter struggles of integrity and ethics the media is grappling with. SANEF is preparing to hold its upcoming Media Ethics and Credibility Summit in an effort to strengthen media integrity and credibility, and to regain the public’s trust.
These very problematic incidents cause the public to doubt the media’s credibility and further erode the fragile relationship between law enforcement and the media.
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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) at its first Council meeting for 2021 has called on the State Capture Inquiry led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to divulge the names of journalists who were paid by the country’s intelligence agencies where there is evidence to back this up.
SANEF has taken firm decisions to promote freedom of expression, ethical and transparent journalism.
A major point of discussion was on the recent allegations of journalists being used as spies to further the agenda of the State Security Agency (SSA). Members again noted the admission of African News Agency (ANA) CEO Vasantha Angamuthu that they accepted money from the State Security Agency (SSA) to “provide multi-media training for SSA analysts and interns across Africa” and to carry positive stories about South Africa and the government.
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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) notes today’s developments that Cricket South Africa (CSA) interim board chair retired Constitutional Court Judge Zak Yacoob has been replaced, however we are disturbed by his behaviour and the abuse he meted towards a Sunday Times Journalist Tiisetso Malepa, who was merely doing his job.
Malepa was following a story in which the suspended CSA acting CEO Kugandrie Govender alleges she was verbally harassed by justice Yacoob. Govender had written two letters of grievance on December 2 and 3 last year to the CSA members’ council, claiming she was treated unfairly by Yacoob, who is a retired judge of the Constitutional Court.
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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is appalled and saddened by the admission of African News Agency (ANA) CEO Vasantha Angamuthu that they accepted money from the State Security Agency (SSA) to “provide multi-media training for SSA analysts and interns across Africa” and to carry positive stories about South Africa and the government.
Angamuthu’s admission comes after the testimony of Dr Sydney Mufamadi before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. Mufamadi told the commission that about R20 million was paid by the intelligence agency to ANA to influence the national news narrative and to counter the bad publicity around former president Jacob Zuma’s government.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is outraged by the insults that TV personality Somizi “Somgaga” Mhlongo directed at Sunday World acting editor, Kabelo Khumalo, and Julia Madibogo of City Press on Instagram, after they offered him his right of reply on separate stories they were writing last week.
Madibogo of City Press approached the “Idols SA” judge for comment on allegations that he was divorcing his husband, Mohale Motaung-Mhlongo. Khumalo approached him for comment after allegations that the production on his cooking show, “Dinner at Somizi’s”, had been put on hold amidst legal proceedings instituted by Hastings Moeng.