The Independent Media stable, which owns titles including The Star, Cape Argus and The Mercury, says it is committed to editorial independence and political neutrality.
Image: Leon Nicholas
Independent Media and MK Party have firmly rejected the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) claims about the former Star editor Sifiso Mahlangu’s alleged involvement in the establishment of the party while at the helm of the title.
Independent Media clarified that Mahlangu resigned without disclosing his political plans, while the MK Party described the allegations as false and reckless.
Mahlangu resigned from his position on May 6, 2026.
He was announced as the spokesperson for the MK Party on Monday.
The allegations that Mahlangu was secretly involved with the MK Party from its inception surfaced immediately following his appointment, leading to SANEF expressing concern that he was allegedly involved with the party while simultaneously occupying one of the most senior positions in South African journalism.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sanef said that any blurring of the lines between journalism and party politics, fundamentally undermines public confidence in the media, and severely damages the integrity of the profession as a whole.
Responding to the allegations, Independent Media highlighted its longstanding commitment to its core editorial policies and principles.
“Independent Media maintains a strict and non-negotiable policy that no editor, journalist, or employee may hold office in, actively represent, or publicly advance the interests of any political party while employed within our editorial operations,” said Independent Editor-in-Chief Adri Senekal de Wet.
“Editorial independence and political neutrality remain fundamental to the credibility and integrity of our newsroom,” she added.
She said that where evidence has emerged in the past of employees occupying positions within political organisations while employed in editorial roles, decisive action has been taken in accordance with company policy.
In 2014, Independent Media fired the late Business Report journalist Donwald Pressly after discovering he had applied to be on the DA parliamentary candidate list. He was found guilty of violating the company’s code of ethics by failing to disclose his political intentions.
Meanwhile, MK Party's head of media and communications, Sipho Tyira, said Mahlangu was only appointed by the MK Party’s President, Jacob Zuma, following a meeting with party officials, adding that he had no prior involvement in the party’s formation or operations.
Tyira added that the party views SANEF’s statement as a 'serious lapse in judgement by a non-governmental organisation that positions itself as a guardian of journalistic ethics'.
“SANEF is not a regulator, yet it continues to issue public pronouncements that carry institutional weight, without consistently applying the basic standards of verification and balance. The MK Party questions why SANEF has not raised similar concerns regarding Songezo Zibi, now the leader of Rise Mzansi and former editor of Business Day,” he said.
“The MK Party further notes that SANEF should focus on addressing allegations related to its own leadership, such as Special Investigating Unit-related findings involving SANEF’s Chairperson, who was also an editor of the Sunday Times.
"These matters relate to allegations that the National Lotteries Commission funds, intended to serve the poor, were allegedly directed toward the payment of a private residence,” said Tyira.
He said that SANEF 'should also occupy itself with advocating for fair remuneration for black journalists, who continue to raise concerns about inequality in pay, compared to their white counterparts'.
“At a minimum, SANEF must reflect on the seriousness of issuing public statements based on inference and assumption, while also failing to observe basic procedural fairness, such as providing a right of reply to Cde Mahlangu,” Tyira said.
manyane.manyane@inl.co.za