Sanef calls for proof that journalists were part of Mama Winnie smear campaign

The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has called for “concrete evidence” to prove claims that some journalists were “spies or rogue operators” recruited by the apartheid regime to tarnish the name of the struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

“In the absence of any such evidence, the circulation of unsubstantiated rumours is irresponsible, dangerous and extremely damaging to media freedom and the media environment as a whole,” Sanef said in a statement.

The forum added such rumours did not only increase the risk of physical harm of the journalists in question, but also led to their credibility being unnecessarily questioned.

In one clip, Madikizela-Mandela explains how she had always known that some journalists were part of StratCom, namedropping Thandi Gqubule and Nomavenda Mathiane as reporters who specialised in writing negative stories about her.

“Those who have concrete evidence of any such wrongdoing by journalists working in South Africa at the height of apartheid should come forward. That would help South Africa get to the bottom of this.

“We would like to call for cool heads, so that we can have a sober debate about ways to cherish Mama Winnie’s legacy in building a truly democratic nation.

“That is a nation where conflicts and debates are handled in an open, democratic fashion, without the kind of smear campaigns that were prevalent during the apartheid era,” the forum said.

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