ANCYL members should heed the call of their leader Julius Malema not to attack journalists just doing their jobs, the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) said on Tuesday.
“It is completely unacceptable that journalists were targeted for attack,” said Sanef chairman Mondli Makhanya. “Sanef notes that Malema told his supporters that journalists should not be attacked as they were merely 'the messengers'.
“We urge that they heed his call and that the youth league inform its members, of the need for journalists to be allowed to carry out their professional duties without interference.”
At least five journalists were hit by rocks and a policeman had to be hospitalised when ANC Youth League (ANCYL) members, including some schoolchildren, ran riot in downtown Johannesburg in support of Malema, who is before a disciplinary hearing.
Sapa photographer Werner Beukes, eNews journalists Belinda Moses and Cathy Mohlahlana, The Star photographer Boxer Ngwenya and The Citizen photographer Michel Bega were hit with rocks thrown by Malema supporters.
Reporters were also groped by youths, said Sapa journalists on scene.
Malema, ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer general Pule Mabe face charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and of sowing divisions in ANC ranks.
The charges arise from Malema's recent comment that the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change, as it believed the government there was “in full co-operation with imperialists” and was undermining the “African agenda”.
Malema faced the ANC disciplinary committee at Luthuli House on Tuesday.
Makhanya said journalists were acting in the interests of the general public, and it was in the public interest that they be allowed to do so.
It was also the duty of the ANCYL to ensure it conducted itself peacefully and within the law, he said.
National Press Club chairman Yusuf Abramjee said earlier that the attack was “totally unacceptable”.
“It shows total disrespect for the role of the media and we condemn this disrespect and the violence in the strongest terms.
“What we have seen today does not bode well for the future of media freedom and all South Africans need to stand up against it,” he said.
While eNews was broadcasting live footage of groups turning on the media at Beyers Naude Square, its reporter Cathy Mohlahlana had to take cover.
According to Patrick Conroy, group head of eNews, parts of the cameraman's cable were stolen.
“My understanding is that a lot of our cabling, visual equipment, was disconnected and stolen.”
He said it was a sad day when the media was not allowed to do its job.
A window of an eNews van was also broken.
Speaking as group head of news at Primedia, Abramjee said Eye Witness News reporter Andrea van Wyk was repeatedly called a bitch, sworn at and groped while she was covering events.
“Our journalists narrowly escaped injury. One reporter's microphone wire was pulled away.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Malema told the crowd at Beyers Naude Square: “You cannot throw stones at journalists because journalists are just messengers… if you attack journalists, you will lose public sympathy.”
He also asked them not to attack the police.
“The police is not your enemy. These are the people employed to protect you,” said Malema.
The Cape Town Press Club said it was deeply disturbed at reports of journalists being attacked.
“We condemn these attacks, and call on the crowds in question to respect the democratic right of journalists to carry out their duties, without hindrance.”
One person had been arrested for turning over a rubbish bin, said Johannesburg metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.
Late on Tuesday, the ANC announced that it was moving the disciplinary hearings to an undisclosed venue - (a decision later reversed).
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said the people of Johannesburg deserved to have space and time to do business and should not be inconvenienced.
“We can't be insensitive to people who must do business in the CBD.
“We do not want it to seem like we are running away from the threat of a siege on Luthuli House,” he said. – Sapa