The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has condemned the request by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, for an investigation into South African news media.

Mkhwanazi has asked that the ad-hoc committee, as well as joint standing committee on intelligence, to task the state security apparatus to conduct a counterintelligence investigation against the media.

In a statement, SANEF says comments made by Mkhwanazi at the Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee investigating allegations of threats to national security, pose as an attack on media freedom.

SANEF says Mkhwanazi doubled down on his stance, calling for the imprisonment of journalists and “heavy penalties” for journalists who err in their reporting.

The organisation says this would represent a significant setback for media freedom in South Africa, reminiscent of the oppressive tactics employed by the apartheid state.

[WATCH] Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says there has been indirect pushback through journalists and media reports. He adds that some journalists who once wrote negatively are now changing their tune and starting to connect the dots. pic.twitter.com/4xBF4SZjph

— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 8, 2025