'BLF's actions dangerous to democracy'

The minister's comments come after the group disrupted a debate about state capture and the Gupta leaks, hosted by the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism on Thursday. 

This despite a High Court order granted to the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) to stop BLF members from intimidating, harassing and threatening journalists. 

Mbalula has now called on BLF supporters to instead win hearts and minds through debate and not through disruptions and intimidation. 

"I am deeply disheartened to see a group of educated Africans denying others the rights they themselves fought to have in our laws. I call upon all of us, BLF to strictly observe freedom of thought and free opinion. As we lay the late Ronnie Mamoepa to rest, let us observe his teachings on the importance of freedom of speech," the minister said in a statement. 

He further condemned BLF's riotous behaviour. 

"Without a free press, a free media, we are left without freedom to information - as such the end of freedom as we dreamt it."

While he did not indicate when BLF members would be arrested, he went on to say police should not wait for "bloodied face evidence".

"Police are sensitised that intimidation and harassment are crimes and we need not wait for bloodied face evidence before we threat victims with due care when they visit our police stations to seek our assistance."