Khaya Koko faces death threats over anti-migrant group doxxing

Khaya Koko, an investigative journalist with South Africa’s News24, has been targeted with abusive messages and death threats following the public release of his personal contact information. The doxxing was carried out by Jacinta Zinhle Ngobese-Zuma, a leader of an anti-immigration group, who shared the reporter's phone number with her followers online. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has formally condemned the act, characterizing it as a direct assault on press freedom in the region.

The harassment began shortly after Koko’s private details were disseminated, prompting a flood of hostile communications directed at the reporter. CPJ officials highlighted that doxxing—the malicious publication of private information—is increasingly used as a tool to intimidate and silence journalists who report on sensitive social and political issues, such as migration. In this instance, Koko’s work on migration issues appears to have made him a primary target for activists seeking to suppress critical investigative reporting.

This incident is not an isolated event within South Africa’s current political climate. Recent anti-migrant protests across the country have been marked by various reports of violence and intimidation directed at members of the press. Journalists covering these demonstrations have frequently found themselves in the crosshairs of both protesters and organizers, leading to heightened concerns about the physical risks faced by media professionals in the field and the shrinking space for independent journalism.

The CPJ has called on South African authorities to take immediate steps to ensure Koko’s safety and to hold those responsible for the threats and doxxing accountable. Advocates for media freedom argue that the failure to prosecute such actions creates a culture of impunity that endangers the democratic role of the press. As the situation develops, authorities are being urged to investigate the source of the threats to provide the protection necessary for journalists to work without fear of extrajudicial reprisal.