​“Say Your Final Prayer” News24 Editor Accuses Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma of Direct Death Threats

News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson has publicly accused March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma of being directly responsible for death threats received by one of the publication’s journalists. Basson said the organisation will hold her accountable and will not leave any stone unturned to ensure the rule of law is upheld. He stressed that she is not above the law.

The statement follows reports that Ngobese-Zuma shared a News24 journalist’s cellphone number on her Facebook page. The post appeared after the journalist sent her questions as part of an investigation into allegations of government contracts linked to Ngobese-Zuma and her husband, Xolani Zuma. Supporters then contacted the journalist with threatening messages. Some of the messages told him to say his final prayer. Others said they would hunt him down and make an example of him.

News24 has sent a legal letter to Ngobese-Zuma demanding that she stop the harassment. The South African National Editors’ Forum has also condemned the sharing of the journalist’s private contact details, describing it as an attempt to intimidate legitimate reporting. The organisation called for an end to the doxxing and threats against media workers.

Ngobese-Zuma is a former radio presenter who founded March and March, a group that campaigns for stricter action against illegal immigration and for South African citizens to be prioritised in jobs and public services. The movement has organised marches in several provinces and has clashed with authorities and foreign nationals in places such as Durban. Supporters of the group have defended her online, saying News24 is targeting her unfairly and that the publication has previously been criticised by the Press Ombud for incomplete reporting.

At the same time, Ngobese-Zuma herself has opened a case after receiving rape and death threats on social media. The South African Human Rights Commission has condemned those threats and called on police to act. The competing claims have fuelled heated debate on social media, with some users backing Basson’s call for accountability and others accusing the media house of bias against black activists.

Basson’s post makes clear that News24 intends to pursue the matter through legal channels. The editor said the threats place a journalist’s safety at risk and that no public figure should be allowed to incite such attacks without consequences. The case highlights ongoing tensions between investigative journalism and activist groups in South Africa, where both media workers and campaigners have reported receiving serious threats in recent months. Police have not yet confirmed whether arrests will follow in either matter.

Source: https://x.com/AdriaanBasson/status/2108288360309768283

Revered-lee feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com