5 December 2025, Bizcommunity, Karabo Ledwaba
Journalists in South Africa face an increasing risk to both their physical safety and professional integrity. Attacks have risen sharply over the past year, including physical assaults and harassment aimed at discouraging reporters from pursuing sensitive stories. The 2024 general elections highlighted these dangers, with Media Monitoring Africa recording over 1,000 online attacks on a small sample of journalists.
The risks extend across the continent. A survey of African journalists found that those reporting on local issues—especially investigations into local leaders, suspected corruption, and environmental crimes—are most at risk. More than 80% of surveyed journalists said they had worked on stories that made them feel unsafe, underscoring the high personal cost of holding power accountable.