by Thinus Ferreira
SABC News journalists in the Free State are receiving death threats and are accused of being responsible for the ANC political party losing votes and control of municipalities in the province, the SABC says.
A case of assault by threats have been opened with the South African police and the South African public broadcaster is also increasing security.
The SABC's journalists who are part of the current affairs team at Lesedi FM in Bloemfontein - senior producer Dimakatso Motsoeneng and presenters Palesa Chubisi and Lahliwe Matsoso - are being threatened that they will be killed.
They are being accused of causing the ANC political party to lose control of the Metsimaholo and Maluti-A-Phofung municipalities in the recent municipal elections that took place in November.
Naka Moloi, Lesedi FM current affairs executive producer, told SABC News that "We are very concerned about the safety and security of our colleagues following the threats".
The fact of the matter is we as journalists. We were doing our job during the election coverage. We invited different political parties from different municipalities in the country. We did our homework, we did research. Our only sin was to probe issues and to ask tough questions."
Dimakatso Motsoeneng told SABC News that "It's not nice because we are mothers, we have families, we have people that are looking after us. If people come to you and make such statements, it simply means you don't know where to go. I hope police will do whatever they can do to bring the perpetrators to book."
