South African investigative journalist Khaya Koko was targeted with over 100 threatening calls and messages, including death threats, after March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma published his telephone number on Facebook. Koko had contacted Ngobese-Zuma seeking her response to allegations that she and her husband, Xolani Zuma, had received nearly R12 million through South African government contracts. The questions formed part of a News24 investigation into an apparent conflict between the couple’s commercial relationship with the state and March and March’s public campaigns against the government.
Instead of responding privately, Ngobese-Zuma shared a screenshot of Koko’s WhatsApp message with his telephone number clearly visible. She wrote that Koko was trying to distract them with lies and that News24 could write whatever they liked, as long as they could prove it. Koko subsequently received hostile telephone calls and messages, including threats to his life. One person reportedly threatened to hunt him down and “make an example” of him, while another said they hoped he would die.
Ngobese-Zuma later obscured Koko's number after receiving a legal demand from News24, but the original post remained online. By the time the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement, Koko had not received an apology from Ngobese-Zuma. News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson said security measures had been introduced to protect Koko and warned that the publication would hold Ngobese-Zuma responsible for the threats.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) condemned the publication of Koko’s number as deliberate doxxing intended to intimidate him and obstruct a legitimate journalistic investigation. SANEF stressed that Koko was complying with the South African Press Code by giving Ngobese-Zuma an opportunity to respond to allegations before publication. News24 columnist Pieter du Toit accused the March and March leadership of cynically engaging with Koko’s questions and said Ngobese-Zuma’s conduct was “dangerous and reckless”.
The Committee to Protect Journalists also called for South African authorities to investigate the threats and ensure Koko’s safety. CPJ Africa director Angela Quintal said doxxing a journalist simply for seeking legitimate comment was an attack on press freedom. Ngobese-Zuma had herself opened a police case days earlier after receiving an online threat calling for her to be raped and killed.
Those threats against Ngobese-Zuma were condemned by the African National Congress and other organisations. SANEF said threats against Ngobese-Zuma did not justify exposing a journalist to similar abuse and urged people who object to media coverage to approach the Press Council or other relevant regulatory bodies. Koko's situation highlights the risks faced by journalists in South Africa and the need for authorities to take action to protect them.
Key points
- News24 journalist Khaya Koko received over 100 threatening calls and messages after March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma published his telephone number on Facebook.
- The South African National Editors’ Forum condemned the publication of Koko’s number as deliberate doxxing intended to intimidate him and obstruct a legitimate journalistic investigation.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists called for South African authorities to investigate the threats and ensure Koko’s safety, citing an attack on press freedom.
