VEREENIGING – The Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) has strongly objected to the forceful removal of journalist Christiaan Cloete from an open council meeting of the Sedibeng District Municipality on Wednesday, 29 January.
Cloete was ejected by security personnel on the instruction of Speaker Moipone Modikeng while filming publicly elected officials debating a motion of no confidence against Executive Mayor Lerato Maloka.
Ben Burger, the FCJ Executive Director, says: “This incident is a direct attack on media freedom and sets a dangerous precedent for the suppression of journalists covering matters of public interest. Open council meetings exist to ensure accountability and transparency, and the removal of a journalist undermines these democratic principles.”
Burger says the right to report freely is enshrined in the South African Constitution, and no journalist should face intimidation, violence, or censorship for fulfilling their duty to inform the public.
“The FCJ calls for accountability from the Sedibeng District Municipality and urges authorities to uphold media freedom and protect journalists from harassment,” Burger concluded.
