ANCYL: We won't literally kill
2010-01-22 15:05
Nelspruit - The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) has rejected the ANC Youth League's semi-retraction of statements issued to intimidate whistleblowers earlier this week.
On Friday, the ANCYL in Mpumalanga changed a threatening statement they issued on Monday, in which they warned whistle-blowers to "book an early grave".
"The youth league wants to make it clear that we don't have guns that are itching to kill people.
"When we said machine gun, we were talking about the same tool that these campaigners use to attack us - the media," said provincial secretary of the league, Isaac Mahlangu on Friday.
"There are people who are campaigning to destroy the youth league and they attack us using the media.
"Our statements meant that we will attack them exactly where they are. We do not intend to literally kill anybody," he said.
'Defending ANCYL's good name'
Mahlangu argued that he would not implicate himself in murder by going to the media before it happens.
"And it must be clear that we are not attacking journalists, but those who go to journalists with information meant to make the movement look corrupt and evil. We are merely defending our good name," said Mahlangu.
Mahlangu was responding to pressure from Sanef and media professionals who were calling for police to arrest him for intimidating whistleblowers.
This is after he sent a statement containing threats to City Press newspaper on Monday, which he copied to other news editors on Tuesday.
However, Sanef says the change of tone is a deception.
"For the ANCYL to turn around and change their statement is sophistry of the highest order.
"They are also giving a false impression that media can be used to settle personal scores," said Sanef Media Freedom chairperson, Thabo Leshilo.
"It is totally false to make the media seem as if it is a platform for nothing else but the truth. We reject this insanity," he said.
DA slams whistleblower intimidation
The ANCYL statement was sent in response to two articles published in City Press on Sunday, which accused ANCYL deputy secretary general, Steven Ngubeni, of awarding tenders to friends in Delmas, where he had been employed as municipal manager until last year.
Another article said Ngubeni had been involved in a hit-and-run accident in Delmas on New Year's Eve.
Ngubeni has been appointed chief executive of the National Youth Development Agency.
The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga has raised concerns over the intimidation of whistleblowers.
"The fight against corruption has been one of the most daunting tasks in the history of Mpumalanga. Officials, politicians and even members of the public have been hesitant to expose corrupt dealings for fear of personal loss," said DA provincial leader, Anthony Benadie.
He said the DA's offices have received numerous complaints from whistle-blowers who report being victimised by colleagues and seniors after exposing corruption.
"Similarly, the DA repeatedly faces the dilemma of receiving information about corrupt activities and or anonymous tip-offs and are unable to verify the facts due to individuals not wanting to risk having their identity exposed," he said.
He said the perception that speaking out "means you will be taken out" was no longer only a threat, but would make less people become willing to expose corruption.