Statement: R2K condemns Malema’s threats to journalists!

EFF Leader Julius Malema PIC: www.enca.com

Right2Know notes with serious concern the threats made by EFF leader, Julius Malema to journalists working for the New Age and ANN7.    

This is not the first time that Malema has bullied and threatened media workers. We are reminded of him very aggressively booting out BBC journalist Jonah Fisher from a press conference in 2010.

The EFF need to apologise for this latest transgression, withdraw their decision to ban journalists, and clarify their commitment to media freedom and the rights of media workers, irrespective of the serious concerns about the ownership and independence of these media organisations.

We have seen numerous attacks on the media lately by different political parties. Press freedom cannot be selectively applied – ALL media workers, regardless of who employs them, should be able to work free of fear or hindrance.

R2K also wishes to ask why, once again, the journalism fraternity has failed to stand up to this kind of bullying. This is reminiscent of Malema’s ouster of Fischer, when other journalists simply watched the process unfold and after their colleague had been ejected, allowed the press conference to continue.

We call on working journalists to commit themselves to exercise solidarity in the face of such attacks.