An American NGO defending journalists targeted South African radical leftist opposition leader Julius Malema on Saturday after he tweeted the personal phone number of a reporter who has since received a flood of threats.
“The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed grave concern about threats and harassment against veteran journalist Karima Brown,” said the organisation which runs a global network from New York. The statement came after Malema tweeted Brown’s telephone number, also calling her a “mole” for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.
Brown said that within hours she received a flood of messages she believes were sent by activists of Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, South Africa’s third-largest. Some threatened to rape her or burn her alive.
We are concerned about Karima Brown’s safety given the threats instigated by the malicious publication of her contact information,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa programme coordinator. South Africans vote in a general election in May, with the ruling ANC party widely expected to conserve its absolute majority.
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