SIMPLY put -know your place Charl Niehaus- as SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef)’s executive director takes aim at him.
This all went down outside the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg today, in support of fellow colleague and News24 legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, who is appearing in court for application to have Zuma’s private prosecution thrown out of court.
Sanef members were approached by fired ANC stalwart Niehaus to ‘educate them on the Constitution and media freedom’.
“Media freedom has got nothing to do with this case. You don’t understand the Constitution,” Niehaus was reported to have said to the members.
Having none of it Sanef’s Reggie Moalusi, former Daily Sun boss, hit back, “Carl, media freedom has everything to do with it.”
Do not speak to us in a condescending manner. “Engage with us on media freedom. Don’t say we don’t understand the Constitution. You don’t want us to trade insults. You can trade insults, but we are not going to stoop to that level.”
Moalusi asked Niehaus to apologise and when he refused, the Sanef members turned their backs on him. He left shortly thereafter.
Maughan came out to thank the support and outlined three core reasons, including the fact that Zuma did not obtain a nolle prosequi certificate against her.
A nolle prosequi certificate is a document that states the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) does not intend to prosecute someone – a requirement for a private prosecution.
Maughan also contends that Zuma is abusing the court process to intimidate, harass and bully her to prevent her from reporting on Zuma’s corruption case.
“It is a hard job being a journalist, particularly a female journalist. We find ourselves being targeted in extremely misogynistic, abusive, and sexist ways. That takes a huge toll on us.
“I knew it was going to be a hard day, with things said intended to damage and hurt, not just me, but other journalists. With you standing behind me, I feel a lot stronger,” says Maughan.
The court is hearing applications from Maughan and SC Billy Downer to have Zuma’s private prosecution thrown out of court.
As for Oom Charl, he’s the last person to teach advocators of freedom of speech on what is a ‘Constitutional right’- ag shame.
Image supplied (Having none of it, Sanef’s Reggie Moalusi did put Charl Niehaus back on his lane, outside the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg today).
