The South African National Editors Forum(SANEF) has sent a strong warning to right wing groups and their supporters, cautioning them against making threats and crimes against the media.
It has lambasted what it says is the growing trend of death threats and social media harassment of journalists.
This follows the the outrage on Twitter against news editor at The Citizen newspaper, Daniel Friedman over his tweet allegedly labeling Freedom Front Plus supporters as racist.
SANEF’s stern warning comes after Friedman was forced to abandon his social media platforms including Twitter after a barrage of threats to his life and anti-Semitic comments.
In a statement, it says the incidents perpetuate a cycle of violence.
SANEF says the harassment by right-wing elements and groups in the country is a bid to silence journalists further impeding on press freedom and depriving society of information.
Friedman has denied the allegations leveled against him but has since been suspended from his position pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
