The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has challenged ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to report acts of alleged impropriety by the media.
Last week, the ANC released a statement bemoaning the media and accusing it of irresponsible reporting and attacking the secretary-general.
Mbalula recently found himself in hot water after he was criticised for prematurely announcing the passing of former deputy president, David Mabuza.
Sanef
However, the ANC came to his defence, waging a war on the media, calling the fourth estate’s enquiries about Mbalula’s actions, political gossip.
While he insisted that he followed due process, his political home has since apologised to the Mabuza family for the way in which its senior leader handled the sensitive matter.
In a statement, Sanef said allegations that the media was attempting to sow divisions within the party fly in the face of previous claims of support for media freedom.
The body warned that such unsubstantiated claims pose the risk of eroding media freedom and worsen the public’s trust deficit in the media.
It said the media was actively working to challenge disinformation and misinformation while Mbalula’s accusation, that the media is behind its spread, dismantles it.
It challenged the secretary-general to lodge a complaint with the organisations charged with handling matters related to the media, the Press Council, and the BCCSA.
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