National Media Group (NMG) chief executive Melanie Peters has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to act swiftly against Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie after the minister 'banned media from events' on TikTok on Black Wednesday, National Press Freedom Day.
In a statement on Tuesday, Peters said the tirade was "a crude middle finger to the Constitution and to our democracy". She said McKenzie, also leader of the Patriotic Alliance, needs to be schooled in journalism fundamentals, including holding public servants to account.
McKenzie's TikTok outburst followed a joint investigation report by IOL and the National Media Group, published under the headline ‘Ministry of cadre deployment’: Leak dossier exposes Gayton McKenzie’s PA network.
Peters likened McKenzie's behaviour to the "hysterics and belligerence" of apartheid-era president P.W. Botha, who viewed independent journalism as an existential threat. She said McKenzie's banning of journalists from events mirrored Botha's treatment of critical reporters.
"Threats against the media by a serving member of President Cyril Ramaphosa's Cabinet are serious and unacceptable in a constitutional democracy," she said.
Calls on the President
Peters called on Ramaphosa to publicly and unequivocally condemn the minister's comments and explain what action he intends to take. She also asked him to launch an independent, thorough investigation into the corruption allegations against McKenzie and dismiss him from Cabinet. She said McKenzie should resign.
She said the President has a constitutional responsibility to defend press freedom and hold Cabinet members accountable.
NMG will engage international media freedom organisations and raise concerns about any attempt to intimidate journalists or restrict independent reporting, Peters said.
Access to the media
Peters referred to reports that McKenzie has barred the media from his campaigns and, as a political party leader, restricted official entities from engaging with journalists. She said these restrictions raise serious concerns about transparency and public accountability and show hostility toward independent journalism.
She said no public official was above scrutiny, citing Nelson Mandela's address to the International Press Institute Congress in Cape Town in February 1994, weeks before the first democratic election, in which he described "a critical, independent and investigative press" as "the lifeblood of any democracy". Mandela said such a press must expose excesses and corruption by government and state officials.
Peters also criticised McKenzie's unfounded attack on Dr Iqbal Survé, who has retired as Sekunjalo chairman, calling it reprehensible. She said Survé has no involvement in the investigation or in the media reporting on the allegations against the minister.
"Such attempts to intimidate or discredit a shareholder will not distract IOL and NMG's investigations and legitimate journalistic scrutiny," she said.
Allegations under investigation
Peters said NMG would continue to investigate matters of legitimate public interest concerning McKenzie. These include allegations relating to drug cartels in townships, the looting of municipalities, and the alleged involvement of people close to him in boards associated with the Department of Arts and Culture. She said reporters must rigorously examine the allegations and report them responsibly, based on verifiable evidence.
McKenzie has previously denied the drug allegations, calling them politically motivated and saying he is suing. In August, News24 reported that 19 people linked to the Patriotic Alliance had been placed on boards of arts and culture entities. The DA has lodged a complaint with the Public Protector about appointments to the department's Mzansi Golden Economy adjudication panel.
McKenzie and the Presidency were approached for comment. This story will be updated when they respond.