The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said it was ‘appalled’ by EFF leader Julius Malema’s call to ban investigative journalism units amaBhungane and the Daily Maverick’s Scorpio from attending their party events, including press conferences.

Malema told party supporters that the publications should be treated as the enemy, as they were designed to pursue the interest of Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. However, in a statement issued on Friday, Sanef said it believed these actions ‘mimic the apartheid state’s censorious responses to investigative reports that exposed its brutal and corrupt activities’.

A report in The Citizen notes the ban comes after the units published an exposé on Malema, party deputy president Floyd Shivambu, and Shivambu’s brother, Brian, as well as Malema’s cousin, implicating them in the illicit flow of funds.

Sanef has challenged Malema and other implicated EFF leaders to disprove these reports or to approach the Ombud’s Office and the Press Council if they feel aggrieved at any aspect of the reporting.

‘Sanef believes it is unacceptable that the leader of the third-largest political party would engage in unconstitutional actions – actions that deny journalists the opportunity to work effectively by being refused the right to attend EFF’s meetings, press conferences and other activities.’

The forum said Malema’s call for a ban of the country’s leading investigative journalism units was at odds with the oath he took.

‘In the wake of these attacks, we hope that members of Parliament will condemn in the strongest terms the EFF leader’s attempts to drag SA back to the days of apartheid censorship where media intimidation by apartheid leaders was routine. Mr Malema needs to be held to his oath to uphold the Constitution.’

Full report in The Citizen

The EFF has rejected the Sanef argument.

‘This right is not an infringement at all of the right belonging to journalists to express themselves freely. They can express themselves freely, but not at the expense of our right to choose who we associate with,’ it said in a statement recorded on the News24 site.

‘Journalism is meant to be grounded on an ethical and independent ethos. Once journalists are directly furthering political objectives, they cease to be journalists,’ the party claimed.

It added that it refused to associate with people who were ‘politicised, masquerading as innocent journalists’.

‘They are all in a personal pursuit of the EFF, seeking its destruction and ultimate end. We choose to associate only with independent, ethical and upstanding journalists.’

Full News24 report