Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – In South Africa, media practitioners are calling for increased protection for journalists in the lead-up to next year’s general elections, despite the country's constitution supporting and promoting media freedom.
According South African Government News Agency, Acting Gauteng Regional Convenor Hopewell Radebe expressed concerns about the safety of journalists during a virtual panel discussion hosted by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). He referenced the challenges faced by journalists in the 2021 elections, including being forcefully removed from areas, subjected to humiliation, and threatened with violence while on duty.
Radebe highlighted the threats journalists face from political parties and the increasing trend of criminals targeting media professionals, robbing them of essential equipment like cellphones and cameras. He emphasized that the media's role in providing a platform for public criticism of political parties contributes to these threats.
Former Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO, Prof Guy Berger, discussed the growing abuse and attacks on journalists, particularly on social media. While criticism is acceptable, he differentiated it from intimidation or threats of violence. Berger stressed the importance of government entities like the GCIS condemning incidents of attacks on journalists and taking a firm stance against such actions.
The United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, which Berger referenced, focuses on protecting journalists and prosecuting those who attack them. This plan aims to create a safe environment for journalists in conflict and non-conflict situations to support peace, democracy, and development worldwide.
Berger also emphasized the need for government intervention in preventing attacks on journalists, stating that failure to address these incidents effectively encourages them. He called for security forces to collaborate with journalists rather than impede their work.
Ahead of the upcoming elections, SANEF has collaborated with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to train journalists on election environment, rules, and regulations. This collaboration aims to prepare journalists for potentially dangerous areas and alert them to what to expect in volatile regions.
Radebe also noted the growing reluctance of the public to allow journalists to report fairly and accurately, particularly when it involves coverage of political campaigns. He warned that this trend could hinder journalists' ability to provide balanced reporting to voters.