Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women Bathabile Dlamini allegedly barred eNCA from entering a hall where she was launching the 16 Days of Activism Campaign in Mthonjaneni, northern KZN, yesterday. According to a News24 report, the broadcaster reported that Dlamini's communications team said she had instructed them that she would only speak to the SABC ‘because they know the parameters’.

eNCA has expressed its ‘deep concern’ at being barred from an event of ‘national importance by a government Minister’.

It added: ‘We reserve the right to ask questions of any publicly appointed representative; indeed we see it as our duty to do so. As a member of the media it is our constitutional right to operate freely and without harassment. To be gagged in this way is of great concern, particularly as we head towards an election year,’ eNCA said in a statement.

The news channel said it would engage with Dlamini's department as well as the Government Communication and Information System ‘to get answers and assurance that this will not be allowed to happen again’.

Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema also banned the Sunday Times and its reporters from covering his events, saying he did not need them. ’I don't need (you) and (I'm) not scared of you and your racist owners. I respectfully and peacefully ask that you stop sending any of your journalists to interview me or to cover any of my events,’ Malema tweeted.

He was responding to the paper's editorial, titled: 'We must find the courage to stand up to the racist bully Julius Malema'.

Full News24 report