The Economic Freedom Fighters has rounded on the politically connected Guptas, demanding they leave the country immediately.
The party’s new campaign is targeted squarely at the family‚ which is close to President Jacob Zuma and his family.
In a media briefing yesterday‚ EFF leader Julius Malema barred journalists from the Gupta-owned The New Age and ANN7‚ saying they were no longer welcome at EFF media briefings and events.
“We are not tampering with media freedom – those institutions are products of corruption. That is not media‚ that is a propaganda machine of a corrupt cartel‚” he said.
He told journalists from these organisations that their safety at EFF events would not be guaranteed‚ but added that the EFF’s campaign against the Guptas would be “peaceful” and would include “fiscal action” against the family.
Malema said the nation “will see” what he meant by fiscal action against the family.
Zuma’s state of the nation address is also expected to be a tumultuous one.
Malema said unless Zuma began his address by explaining why he removed former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene and replaced him with little known MP Des Van Rooyen‚ which cost the country billions‚ the EFF would not allow him to proceed.
“It is him‚ us and the white shirts‚” Malema said of the event‚ to be held next Thursday. The white shirts refer to the security that had physically hauled Malema out of parliament last year.
The EFF also rejected Zuma’s “settlement proposal” on Nkandla‚ saying unless a settlement reaffirmed the powers of the public protector‚ the party would not agree to it. Malema said Zuma must also admit he breached his oath of office and violated the Constitution.
He spared no one‚ describing Finance Minster Pravin Gordhan as a puppet of white capital and accusing South African Revenue Service boss Tom Moyane of being “Zuma’s nanny” by taking care of Zuma’s children in Mozambique.
In reaction, the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said it was concerned by Malema’s “dangerous remarks” threatening ANN7 and The New Age journalists.
“It is unacceptable for any political party to intimidate journalists and to publicly state that they cannot guarantee their safety‚” Sanef’s media freedom committee chairman‚ Adriaan Basson‚ said.
“The Sanef urges the EFF not to ban journalists working for Gupta-owned media from covering EFF events and press conferences, and to reaffirm the rights to media freedom and association.
“The EFF is entitled to its views about media owners‚ but should allow journalists to conduct their work without fear and in a climate conducive to the free exchange of information.”
Basson noted: “Freedom of the media and freedom of expression are enshrined in our Constitution and should be respected by the EFF. A diverse media is essential for a robust and healthy democracy.”
Editor of The New Age Moegsien Williams said his newspaper would not report on the EFF if the party could not guarantee the safety of his reporters.
He described the EFF’s attack as “a declaration of war”.
“Julius Malema is our very own Donald Trump‚” Williams was quoted as saying on ANN7’s twitter feed‚ in a debate following the threat by the EFF’s leader. “The safety of our reporters is paramount.”
Malema demands Guptas leave SA
The party’s new campaign is targeted squarely at the family‚ which is close to President Jacob Zuma and his family.
In a media briefing yesterday‚ EFF leader Julius Malema barred journalists from the Gupta-owned The New Age and ANN7‚ saying they were no longer welcome at EFF media briefings and events.
“We are not tampering with media freedom – those institutions are products of corruption. That is not media‚ that is a propaganda machine of a corrupt cartel‚” he said.
He told journalists from these organisations that their safety at EFF events would not be guaranteed‚ but added that the EFF’s campaign against the Guptas would be “peaceful” and would include “fiscal action” against the family.
Malema said the nation “will see” what he meant by fiscal action against the family.
Zuma’s state of the nation address is also expected to be a tumultuous one.
Malema said unless Zuma began his address by explaining why he removed former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene and replaced him with little known MP Des Van Rooyen‚ which cost the country billions‚ the EFF would not allow him to proceed.
“It is him‚ us and the white shirts‚” Malema said of the event‚ to be held next Thursday. The white shirts refer to the security that had physically hauled Malema out of parliament last year.
The EFF also rejected Zuma’s “settlement proposal” on Nkandla‚ saying unless a settlement reaffirmed the powers of the public protector‚ the party would not agree to it. Malema said Zuma must also admit he breached his oath of office and violated the Constitution.
He spared no one‚ describing Finance Minster Pravin Gordhan as a puppet of white capital and accusing South African Revenue Service boss Tom Moyane of being “Zuma’s nanny” by taking care of Zuma’s children in Mozambique.
In reaction, the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said it was concerned by Malema’s “dangerous remarks” threatening ANN7 and The New Age journalists.
“It is unacceptable for any political party to intimidate journalists and to publicly state that they cannot guarantee their safety‚” Sanef’s media freedom committee chairman‚ Adriaan Basson‚ said.
“The Sanef urges the EFF not to ban journalists working for Gupta-owned media from covering EFF events and press conferences, and to reaffirm the rights to media freedom and association.
“The EFF is entitled to its views about media owners‚ but should allow journalists to conduct their work without fear and in a climate conducive to the free exchange of information.”
Basson noted: “Freedom of the media and freedom of expression are enshrined in our Constitution and should be respected by the EFF. A diverse media is essential for a robust and healthy democracy.”
Editor of The New Age Moegsien Williams said his newspaper would not report on the EFF if the party could not guarantee the safety of his reporters.
He described the EFF’s attack as “a declaration of war”.
“Julius Malema is our very own Donald Trump‚” Williams was quoted as saying on ANN7’s twitter feed‚ in a debate following the threat by the EFF’s leader. “The safety of our reporters is paramount.”
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