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- The SA National Editors' Forum has condemned the harassment of a Lesedi FM journalist and former SABC employees.
- It's alleged that the journalists are victims of a cyberbullying campaign.
- The campaign allegedly involves unsubstantiated claims that they were involved in a "sex for jobs" scandal at Lesedi FM.
The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) has condemned the harassment of Lesedi FM journalist Mantsheuwa Mofokeng and former SABC employees.
According to a Sanef statement, Mofokeng and former SABC journalists Matshediso Mokaeane and Naka Moloi are the victims of a cyberbullying campaign that started in October 2020.
"In the latest poster, created and widely distributed on social media this week, fellow Lesedi FM journalist Dimakatso Motsoeneng's face has been added to the smear campaign," the statement read.
"Unknown persons have made unsubstantiated claims that the four are involved in a so-called 'sex for jobs' scandal at Lesedi FM.
"The creators have used fake email addresses and fake Facebook accounts to distribute the malicious allegations. In the posters being widely distributed, pictures from pornographic websites are used as part of an obscene plot to destroy their reputations."
READ | Sanef condemns cyberbullying of journalist after report implicating politician in rape case
Sanef said it believed the incidents amounted to a classic case of cyberbullying which affects the journalists' ability to work and damages their credibility.
"Sanef condemns the continued use of social media as a weapon to silence journalists, especially women journalists. Too often, women journalists are sexualised, body-shamed, called names, and even threatened with rape in a desperate effort to force them to leave journalism."
"The savage actions have a lasting impact on the journalists' mental health."
Sanef welcomed the police's investigation into the cyberbullying, harassment and defamation of the SABC journalists.
"We are hoping for a speedy conclusion and for [the] perpetrators to be brought to book to send a message that such action will not be tolerated or left unchallenged."
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