Award-winning journo Zubeida Jaffer says press freedom rules in danger

JOHANNESBURG - As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day on Friday, award-winning journalist Zubeida Jaffer said the media was faced with difficulties.

Jaffer has put a spotlight on Gaza, where 142 Palestinian journalists have been killed in attacks since October 2023.

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She said this was an indication that rules that governed press freedom no longer applied.

"There seems to be no protection for journalists in the world, and it's a very, very worrying time."

Jaffer said journalists in South Africa were fortunate, as press freedom has been safeguarded.

"Last year [2023], we were ranked 25 out of over a hundred countries, beating both the US [United Sates] and the UK [United Kingdom] in the press freedom ranking. So as a country, we have done very well."