Editors head to court to stop BLF intimidation
The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) is approaching the court in an effort to prevent members of the Black First Land First (BLF) organisation from intimidating journalists for reporting on corruption and state capture.
BLF members protested outside the house of journalist and editor Peter Bruce last week and also released a list of names of reporters it is targeting.
Sanef Chairperson Mahlatse Gallens says they are asking the Johannesburg High Court for an urgent interdict against BLF and its founder, Andile Mngxitama
"For us it is important because we want the rule of law to prevail," says Gallens.
Gallens says they have sent BLF a warning letter.
"Their answer was basically to disregard the law. We have heard them say that they will follow our journalists to their homes and they will also go to their place of worship," says Gallens.
Gallens says BLF is not heeding any of the warnings.
"They have not regard for the warning by the Minister of Police who said that police would take the matter up and investigate the cases and those who are found guilty will be arrested," says Gallens.
Sanef is approaching the court a day after the ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu Jackson Mthembu also spoke out against recent action by BLF.
Jackson said the ANC condemns BLF in the extreme and in their view see their actions as intimidation.
"Where we stand intimidation is a criminal act, they must be arrested immediately," said Mthembu.