Zuma prosecution of journalist ‘threat to media freedom’ - SANEF
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) says it will be supporting News24 journalist Karyn Maughan in a private prosecution case brought against her by former president Jacob Zuma.
Zuma served Maughan and state prosecutor Billy Downer with the summons on Tuesday to appear in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg.
The charges relate to News24's publication of details of Zuma's medical condition, which the former president claims were leaked by Downer.
The former president obtained a private prosecution certificate after the National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu-Natal declined to prosecute Downer.
In a statement, SANEF says the charges are intended to intimidate Maughan and other journalists.
"This is a clear case of intimidation solely intended to silence Maughan. As SANEF previously stated in June when Maughan was cited as a respondent, the information published by Maughan was of public record and not confidential.
"This latest move by Zuma’s legal team should be condemned, and viewed as intimidation not only towards Maughan, but other journalists as well. As this is a clear attack on media freedom, SANEF is considering joining the case as amicus curiae."
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