Monday marks World Press Freedom Day. 

Sanef says the increasing number of attacks on journalists are of great concern. 

"In 2021 journalists are facing increased attacks, including imprisonment, torture, and murder. In South Africa journalists are attacked by criminals, are harassed by cyberbullies online, receive death threats and - women journalists especially - are often targeted by party political supporters," it said in a statement. 

"Over the past 25 years, Sanef has championed media freedom and fought to ensure that journalists are safe and protected while speaking truth to power. Added to the stranglehold of daily attacks and intimidation, our journalists (along with all frontline workers) brave the threat of Covid-19 infections and risk to their health in their efforts to bring us the truth."

It believes all South Africans have the right to a free press. 

"In South Africa, media freedom is enshrined and protected in our Constitution. It is the right of every citizen to protect media freedom and freedom of expression. If media freedom is threatened, our democracy suffers.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern in his weekly newsletter over what he calls the growing number of attacks and intimidation of journalists on social media.

Ramaphosa says it is particularly harmful when directed at female journalists accompanied by threats of sexual violence.

“Such intimidation is totally unacceptable but is particularly harmful when it is directed at female journalists and is occasionally accompanied by threats of sexual violence. This is a matter of great concern and cannot be allowed,” Ramaphosa wrote.

At the same time, Ramaphosa said he takes comfort in the fact that South Africa still honours freedom of the media.

“We take great comfort in the knowledge that we have a free, robust media that is able to report without fear or favour about those in power, about the most pressing social issues of our time, and to provide accurate, impartial information to the public.

At a time when we are working together to rebuild our economy and our society in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, a robust media is more critical than ever,” he said.

Jacaranda News/Anastasi Mokgobu