A group of South African journalists have paid tribute to media workers killed in Gaza. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more than 80 journalists and media workers have been among the 27 000 killed since the conflict erupted on 7 October.
South African journalists have been holding vigils to demand justice for all media workers who have been killed.
The message is loud and clear. Journalists in Gaza and anywhere in the world should ply their trade without being killed.
The South African journalists are saying no to impunity by having night vigils in four cities.
One of the organisers of the Johannesburg Night Vigil, Deshnee Subramany says many journalists have been killed for doing their job.
“I think we are also saying the problem is that our journalists are being attacked. So it is quite difficult for us.”
Night Vigil | Protection of journalists in conflict zones: Deshnee Subramany
Similar vigils have been held in some cities and towns to honour the fallen journalists.
A night vigil was held at Rhodes University in Makhanda. It was led by the journalism department in solidarity with the journalists killed in Gaza.
83 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead, including 76 Palestinians, four Israel and three Lebanese.
Rhodes Journalism Lecturer Sheppi Mati says they have a duty as journalists to support fellow journalists in the world especially those who die on duty.
“We have a moral responsibility and duty to raise our voices when journalists get harassed and killed and in this instance, the numbers that are involved even exceed those of all the wars that we’ve had in the past. As such they require us to really raise our voices loud and clear and condemn what is going on.”
Night Vigil | Rhodes University pays tribute to slain journalists in Gaza: Shepi Mati
-Additional reporting by Khayelihle Khumalo
