Acclaimed film producer Anant Singh has added his voice to recent developments unfolding in the country.
In the past week, members of Black First Land First (BLF) under the leadership of disgruntled and booted out member of the EFF Andile Mngxitama, have been intimidating white journalists whom they deem as "protecting the interest of white monopoly capital".
This statement by BLF last week: "BLF respects freedom of expression and the independence of the media. However, BLF will not tolerate racism, slander, fake news and the covering up of white corruption under the guise of journalism. As a consequence of the constant attack by the white owned media, under the pretext of practising journalism, BLF has decided to target the following racist, white journalists for our protest actions against white media:...".
This blogger will not name the journalists mentioned in the BLF statement in the interest of media ethics and minimising harm. The BLF statement goes on to name the journalists they intend to target and also mention names of Coloured journalists whom BLF says:
Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama
"Our message to them [Coloured journalists] is that they must repent, ask for forgiveness from black people for being used by white monopoly capital. They must stop their askari tendencies or face the possibility of being mistaken for white journalists. BLF believes in 'peace amongst blacks, war to the enemy', so these journalists still have a door open to them. We will not treat black people the way we treat white people. We, however, call upon them to repent and stop being useful agents of the white agenda."
The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has since sought to interdict members of the BLF from intimidating and or harassing any journalists.
Meanwhile, the ANC has today at its national policy conference announced "white monopoly capital" will now be known as the "monopoly capital" as you might have heard/read in the news.
Anant says: "It is with great concern that I have observed the upsurge of intimidation and harassment of journalists and those who wish for freedom of expression in our country. I would like to add my voice to the many others who have spoken out against this injustice."
Anant Singh and his wife at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival Vanashree Singh
According to Anant, "these actions seem to take me back to the apartheid era, when we had to endure a repressive regime that adopted similar tactics. During that period, many brave individuals risked their lives and that of their families. I also note the hypocrisy of the perpetrators who profess to support the ideals of the freedom speech and freedom of expression, but threaten journalists who expose them for what they are. It seems to me that so many have forgotten the massive commitment that thousands of people had to achieve our democracy, many of whom lost their lives. This appears to have been forgotten too quickly and it is extremely disappointing, and saddens me a great deal."
Says Anant: "The recent harassment of Peter Bruce, Tim Cohen, Suna Venter and others is reprehensible. Also, in the age of a robust online environment, the intimidation has extended to internet trolling where journalists have been denigrated on various social media platforms. Any form of intimidation and harassment is unacceptable. I urge law enforcement agencies, the courts and NGO's to act against those who flaunt the constitutional rights of the media and individuals and, I urge fellow citizens to provide support by standing up against these bullies."
The media statement by Anant ends saying: "The words of Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, should provide inspiration and motivation to journalists, Even a purely moral act that has no hope of any immediate and visible political effect can gradually and indirectly, over time, gain in political significance.'"
Anant's film credits include Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Yesterday (a first South African Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Language Picture category in 2005), Sarafina, The Road to Mecca, Captives, Stephen King’s The Mangler, Cry, the Beloved Country among other films.