Journalists need support and protection

THE threat on the life of the editor of one of our Independent Media titles, The Star in Johannesburg, serves as a reminder of the treacherous terrain our journalists are forced to navigate in the course of their daily work.

Indeed, the pursuit of truth, and service to the public by keeping them informed, are not for the faint-hearted.

It is a calling that requires a special breed of individual.

It demands courage, determination and a commitment to making our communities, our country and our world a better place.

Sadly, there are those who would seek to silence our journalists, to keep them from finding and telling the truth – and would resort to criminal and violent lengths to that end.

Editor Sifiso Mahlangu found this to his dismay when he received a chilling text message from an ANC MP this week.

Mahlangu had been leading an investigation into the controversial theft at the president's Phala Phala farm, and had clearly opened a Pandora's box.

“Leave him alone a bit,” he was told about publishing articles about the president's adviser, who had been implicated in the investigation.

“You are my friend and I don’t want people to assassinate you. Because it can happen any time from now.”

In no uncertain terms, this was an alleged threat by a politician on the life of a journalist, for doing his job.

Credit must go to the editor, who stood up to the intimidation and reported the matter to the police.

Sadly, this is but one instance of a journalist who has inadvertently put their life in danger.

In this line of work, it happens on a daily basis.

Reporters in the field will tell you they regularly have to contend with threats of violence – not only from politicians, but common criminals and gangsters, at dangerous scenes of public violence and disaster zones, as well as legal action from implicated parties.

So the next time you, dear reader, read an article in this newspaper, appreciate the challenges involved in bringing the story to your attention.

It is not an easy job, but then no one said preserving democracy was a walk in the park.

Our journalists deserve all our support and protection.