It’s alleged that this clique of individuals blames the Lesedi FM journalists for the poor showing of the ANC during the 2021 Local Government Elections (LGE) at the cash-strapped Maluti-A-Phofung and Metsimaholo Municipalities in the Free State. The ANC lost its grip to opposition parties at both municipalities, including its hold on former councillors, who were expelled from the councils and joined a civic movement called (MAP16).

Meanwhile, the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) spokesperson, Oupa Khoabane, says the party views such threats as cowardly deeds by individuals who may feel defeated by a democratic environment, which promotes expressions through robust engagement by journalists in an enlightening society.

The ANC lost its grip at Maluti-A-Phofung after it only managed to score 39.2%, which gave it 28 council seats, followed by the MAP16 who managed to garner 28.55% with 20 seats, and the EFF with 9.84% which translate to 7 council seats. The municipality was left in a hung status and this meant that parties were forced to form a coalition government, from which the ANC also was excluded.

In Metsimaholo, the ruling was met with the same fate as it lost out on the mayoral position and currently, the municipality has a DA mayor after the EFF's Selloane Motjoane resigned under the instruction of the party. The party received 34,4% with 16 council seats, followed by the DA with 26,19% and 12 seats, and the EFF with 25,28% and also 12 seats.

“The Free State ANC has learned with disgust the threats levelled at journalists of Lesedi FM, by faceless cowards who accuse them of negatively affecting the electoral performance of the ANC in the Metsimaholo and Maluti-a-Phofung Municipalities.

"It is such threats on journalists that threaten freedom of speech in a democratic society. As an organisation believing in freedom necessary for journalists to report without fear or favour, we believe that the name of the ANC is being used as a decoy for nefarious intentions harboured by the sources of these threats,” he adds.

Khoabane says the ANC condemns, unreservedly, the source of such threats and hope that the law enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned in finding the perpetrators.

“The Free State ANC calls on its structures and members to assist in exposing these cowards. We, therefore, as the ANC, distance ourselves from anyone who threatens journalists from doing their work without fear,” he further adds.

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