SIYABONGA SITHOLE
Johannesburg - A series of alleged “anti-Mangosuthu” articles by City Press editor-in-chief Mondli Makhanya has prompted the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) to march to the offices of one of the country's Sunday newspapers, City Press.
This past week, the publication ran yet another unflattering column by Makhanya titled: “Hail the Mass Murderer: how a people that is so fixated on the sins of the past can so casually overlook the sins of a man who was responsible for so much of the killing that happened in the war of apartheid”.
This latest article, following many others in the past, appears to have broken the camel's back, with the party determined to march to the offices of the newspaper in Randburg on September 16.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party said it will be handing over a list of demands to the newspaper on the day of the march.
Gauteng IFP chairperson Bonginkosi Dhlamini accused Makhanya of abusing his platform through his weekly column in the paper, adding that he has over the years used this platform to attack its founding leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi and the party in general.
"The IFP’s structures will embark upon a mass march to the offices of City Press next Friday, September 16. The purpose of the march is to protest the abuse of this platform by City Press editor, Mondli Makhanya," Dhlamini said.
The party said this week's column by Makhanya is not the first as he has for many years penned similar articles that seek to “ridicule and embarrass its leader.”
"For decades now, Mr Makhanya has been masquerading as a journalist; all while he has harboured a personal political grudge against the IFP.
"It is important to note that Mr Makhanya is quoted in Dr Anthea Jeffrey’s book, The People’s War, as having participated in the black-on-black violence of the past, taking pleasure participating and seeing IFP members maimed. Based on his writing, it is clear that this so-called editor is nothing more than a former ANC operative with an agenda, who has, in City Press, found a platform to abuse his former foe Prince Buthelezi, as well as the IFP, " Dhlamini said.
According to the party, the veteran newspaperman's conduct is unbecoming of a journalist and is in breach of the much-lauded freedom of expression and freedom of the media.
"Mr Makhanya is clearly in breach of his own editorial code of conduct. This calls into question why City Press has allowed this ongoing abuse, and why SANEF continues to stay quiet," Dhlamini said.
The IFP added that Makhanya is also contravening the country's Constitution with his conduct, which in turn contradicts the freedom of expression, freedom of the media and other constitutional provisions.
Dhlamini said Makhanya, as a member of the fourth estate, should be leading by example in his dealings with those he has a problem with.
"He knows full well that he is held to a higher standard than the average man and woman on the street as regards this particular freedom.
"However, despite this responsibility, he continues to peddle unsubstantiated opinions and blatant lies, particularly about the IFP’s founder and president Prince Buthelezi,“ the party added.
The Star