The Star editor Sifiso Mahlangu has laid a criminal case after he received assassination threats. Image: Pixabay
The Star editor threatened with assassination for reporting about Ramaphosa’s advisor
The Star editor, Sifiso Mahlangu was reportedly threatened by Boy Mamabolo to stop reporting on Bejani Chauke or face assassination.
The Star editor Sifiso Mahlangu has laid a criminal case after he received assassination threats. Image: Pixabay
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has called on police to act swiftly on their investigation following reports of threats made against The Star editor Sifiso Mahlangu by an ANC Member of Parliament Boy Mamabolo.
According to reports carried in various Independent Media’s titles, ANC member of parliament Boy Mamabolo allegedly told editor Sifiso Mahlangu to stop reporting on Dr Bejani Chauke, a specialist adviser to President Cyril Ramaphosa, or face assassination.
ASSASSINATION THREATS POSED TO THE STAR EDITOR
In the texts between the two, Mamabolo urged Mahlangu to leave Bejani Chauke alone when Mahlangu said he is not against Chauke the ANC MP said he doesn’t want to see the editor being assassinated as it might and can happen anytime from now.
Bejani Chauke’s name has come up a number of times on the Phala Phala farm saga and he is rumoured to have been one of the key individuals involved in moving the millions of dollars that were allegedly stolen in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s property in 2020.
SANEF said such a statement is not only a chilling threat to the life of Mahlangu but is also conduct that borders on criminal conduct. It said it has also reached out to Mahlangu and requested that he share the threatening messages from Mamabolo. He has yet to do so.
SANEF said it further notes Mahlangu’s decision to lay a criminal complaint against Mamabolo and calls for a full investigation into the matter.
The organisation said it stands for media freedom and believes that journalists should be given the space to do their work without political interference or intimidation.
“While Independent Media, owners of The Star, are neither members of SANEF nor are they part of the Press Council of SA – like most mainstream media houses in South Africa – we believe that threats or intimidation directed at journalists should be condemned by all proponents of media freedom. Journalists have a right to do their job without fear or favour. We call on the police to act swiftly in their investigation so that the matter can be brought to finality.”
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