By Loxion News Staff Writer
Media Freedom Under Threat: SANEF Slams Mkhwanazi’s Call for Journalists to Be Jailed
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has strongly condemned comments made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, describing them as a “chilling attack” on press freedom and a dangerous attempt to intimidate journalists.
Mkhwanazi’s remarks came during a parliamentary ad-hoc committee hearing investigating his whistleblowing allegations, where he allegedly called on Parliament and the State Security Agency to launch counterintelligence investigations against South African media houses.
Mkhwanazi’s Remarks Spark Outrage
According to SANEF, the police commissioner deviated from his witness statement on Tuesday night, using the platform to accuse journalists of wrongdoing and urging the state to punish them.
On Wednesday, Mkhwanazi doubled down on his comments, suggesting that journalists who “err” in their reporting should face imprisonment and heavy penalties, even adding that “They must sit in Pollsmoor for a while.”
SANEF said such statements echo the repressive tactics of the apartheid era, when journalists were harassed, silenced, and imprisoned for exposing the truth.
“This represents a direct attack on South Africa’s Constitutional right to a free and independent press,” SANEF said. “We call on National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and Police Minister Firoz Cachalia to publicly denounce these remarks as an abuse of authority and a violation of democratic principles.”
Context: Crime Intelligence Reports and Alleged Corruption
The controversy stems from media reports on findings by the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI), which recommended criminal and disciplinary charges against several senior officials — including Police Commissioner Masemola, suspended Crime Intelligence head Major-General Dumisani Khumalo, and CFO Major-General Philani Lushaba.
The IGI found that Crime Intelligence officials had approved property purchases worth R120 million, raising concerns of gross financial misconduct.
Mkhwanazi accused journalists from News24, City Press, and Sunday Times of publishing “classified” material, arguing that Crime Intelligence operations should remain secret, even when allegations of corruption arise.
SANEF: “Journalists Will Not Be Intimidated”
SANEF emphasised that journalists are protected by law from revealing their confidential sources — a right upheld by the High Court in Bosasa vs Basson (2012) and SABC vs Avusa (2010).
The organisation warned that calls to investigate or punish journalists are thinly veiled intimidation tactics aimed at shielding the corrupt and deterring investigative reporting.
“Crime Intelligence is not above the law,” SANEF stated. “Over the past two decades, journalists have exposed the misuse of the Crime Intelligence slush fund. These latest threats only confirm why the media’s watchdog role remains crucial in our democracy.”
Defending Whistleblowers and the Free Press
SANEF called on Minister Firoz Cachalia and Commissioner Fannie Masemola to unequivocally condemn any efforts to silence the press or persecute whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing.
“Failure to act decisively will erode public trust, weaken democracy, and embolden those who seek to abuse state power,” SANEF warned. “A free, fearless press is non-negotiable in any constitutional democracy.”
About SANEF
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation representing editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers across the country. It is dedicated to protecting media freedom, promoting ethical journalism, and defending South Africa’s constitutional right to free expression.
SANEF advocates for media excellence through policy engagement, training, and research initiatives – and remains steadfast in opposing censorship or state interference in journalistic work.
