TechCentralTechCentral
    Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentral TechCentral
    NEWSLETTER
    • News

      Unlawful Eskom strike costing South Africa three stages of load shedding

      1 July 2022

      Google.co.za is down and the domain is pending deletion

      1 July 2022

      US files charges over South African bitcoin fraud scheme

      1 July 2022

      Hein Engelbrecht to lead Mustek as its new CEO

      1 July 2022

      Alviva shares leap higher on R3-billion take-private offer

      30 June 2022
    • World

      Meta girds for ‘fierce’ headwinds

      1 July 2022

      Graphics card prices plummet as crypto demand dries up

      30 June 2022

      Bitcoin just had its worst quarter in a decade

      30 June 2022

      Samsung beats TSMC to 3nm chip production

      30 June 2022

      Napster plots crypto comeback

      29 June 2022
    • In-depth

      The NFT party is over

      30 June 2022

      The great crypto crash: the fallout, and what happens next

      22 June 2022

      Goodbye, Internet Explorer – you really won’t be missed

      19 June 2022

      Oracle’s database dominance threatened by rise of cloud-first rivals

      13 June 2022

      Everything Apple announced at WWDC – in less than 500 words

      7 June 2022
    • Podcasts

      How your organisation can triage its information security risk

      22 June 2022

      Everything PC S01E06 – ‘Apple Silicon’

      15 June 2022

      The youth might just save us

      15 June 2022

      Everything PC S01E05 – ‘Nvidia: The Green Goblin’

      8 June 2022

      Everything PC S01E04 – ‘The story of Intel – part 2’

      1 June 2022
    • Opinion

      Has South Africa’s advertising industry lost its way?

      21 June 2022

      Rob Lith: What Icasa’s spectrum auction means for SA companies

      13 June 2022

      A proposed solution to crypto’s stablecoin problem

      19 May 2022

      From spectrum to roads, why fixing SA’s problems is an uphill battle

      19 April 2022

      How AI is being deployed in the fight against cybercriminals

      8 April 2022
    • Company Hubs
      • 1-grid
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Amplitude
      • Atvance Intellect
      • Axiz
      • BOATech
      • CallMiner
      • Digital Generation
      • E4
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • IBM
      • Kyocera Document Solutions
      • Microsoft
      • Nutanix
      • One Trust
      • Pinnacle
      • Skybox Security
      • SkyWire
      • Tarsus on Demand
      • Videri Digital
      • Zendesk
    • Sections
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud computing
      • Consumer electronics
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Energy
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Motoring and transport
      • Public sector
      • Science
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home»News»SABC 8 resolute despite death threats

    SABC 8 resolute despite death threats

    News By Agency Staff14 November 2016
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email

    SABC-640

    Despite intimidation and death threats, the SABC 8 on Sunday reiterated their determination to go ahead with a constitutional court case probing possible censorship at the national broadcaster.

    “While the journalists are concerned about their safety, they remain resolute and determined to persist with the case,” said their lawyer, Aslam Moosajee.

    Moosajee has previously been sent text messages containing death threats against certain of the journalists if they do not drop an upcoming constitutional court case asking for measures to protect the national broadcaster’s newsroom against censorship or interference.

    One of the texts sent to Moosajee targets radio producer Suna Venter, declaring: “We will double what sbc8 backers are paying advice them to drop the case friday or the girl dies call this nr to stop it [sic].”

    On Sunday, Moosajee, who is acting pro bono in representing the journalists, retorted that no amount of money could “lure” him to drop the case.

    “I believe in their cause,” he said.

    The SABC came in for criticism in July when it fired Venter, Foeta Krige, Krivani Pillay, Thandeka Gqubule, Busisiwe Ntuli, Lukhanyo Calata, Vuyo Mvoko and Jacques Steenkamp for speaking out against the broadcaster’s policy to not show footage of violent protests.

    Subsequently the eight journalists, who were rehired by the SABC in September following a lengthy labour court battle, filed papers at the constitutional court asking for the national assembly to institute an inquiry into the various issues plaguing the broadcaster, including their firings.

    This weekend, the Sunday Times reported on various incidents of intimidation and death threats — especially targeting Venter, but also affecting certain others.

    The Democratic Alliance has since said it will ask acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane to give the journalists police protection until the court case is finalised.

    Detailing the incidents on Sunday, radio producer Foeta Krige confirmed that his caretaker was held up during a house robbery.

    According to the Sunday Times, television producer Busisiwe Ntuli’s home has also been broken into and someone tried to ram into her car while she was in it.  Ntuli declined to comment.

    Venter, who remains in hiding, confirmed the incidents reported by the Sunday newspaper. Acts of intimidation began with threatening messages sent in August and a break-in at her house in September.  However, since October the number of incidents has increased significantly.

    These include being shot at with ceramic bullets while driving home at night, following which a text message was sent saying: “Next time, won’t miss.” In another incident, electric wires on her brakes were cut.  She has also been the victim of tyre blowouts and punctured tyres.

    Most recently, this Saturday, her car — parked at her secret location — was broken into and goods disturbed, but nothing was taken.

    Nevertheless, Venter reiterated that she would not drop out of the court case.

    “When [the incidents of intimidation] happen, you are scared for that moment — but if you look at the overall picture, I have to tell myself I will not allow them to terrorise me.  And I will not.”

    Krige echoed Venter’s sentiments. “We will never back down.”

    He said all the journalists wanted was for the newsroom at the SABC not be subjected to interference.

    A police task team has been established, headed by lieutenant-colonel Gert Grobler.

    Gauteng police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini confirmed the investigation was ongoing. “No one has been arrested,” he said.

    Venter said that those behind the intimidation seemed “quite sophisticated” in their tactics.

    She said, for example, that the shots angled at her windscreen during one incident were accurately aimed, appearing to have been fired by someone well trained.  She said she was saved because the shooter was too far away and she had protective film over her windows.

    Krige also said that the case was made complicated by the fact that those involved clearly has certain professional skills such as being able to intercept e-mails.

    The Sunday Times cited unnamed sources as saying the text messages had been identified as coming from the cellphone tower nearest the SABC headquarters in Auckland Park.

    Krige suggest one way to determine who was behind the attacks would be to question who might feel the constitutional case was detrimental to their interests.

    “I question their motives… why be frightened by newsrooms being independent?”

    News24

    Busisiwe Ntuli Foeta Krige Jacques Steenkamp Krivani Pillay Lukhanyo Calata SABC Suna Venter Thandeka Gqubule Vuyo Mvoko
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email
    Previous ArticleArrival is best sci-fi film of 2016
    Next Article Trump vows to keep tweeting

    Related Posts

    Unlawful Eskom strike costing South Africa three stages of load shedding

    1 July 2022

    Google.co.za is down and the domain is pending deletion

    1 July 2022

    US files charges over South African bitcoin fraud scheme

    1 July 2022
    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Promoted

    Billetterie simplifies interactions between law firms and clients

    30 June 2022

    Think herding cats is tricky? Try herding a cloud

    29 June 2022

    How your business can help hybrid workers effectively

    28 June 2022
    Opinion

    Has South Africa’s advertising industry lost its way?

    21 June 2022

    Rob Lith: What Icasa’s spectrum auction means for SA companies

    13 June 2022

    A proposed solution to crypto’s stablecoin problem

    19 May 2022

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2022 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.