The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) says it will urgently seek a meeting with the leadership of the EFF, following threats made mainly to female journalists by party leader, Julius Malema and other leaders on social media and at various political rallies.
Sanef says Malema named several journalists last week, and called on EFF supporters to 'deal with them decisively'.
It says one journalist was verbally threatened outside the venue of the Zondo Commission into state capture in Johannesburg, where Malema had made some of these threats.
Sanef says in another incident, a senior editor was accosted by three men, who shouted her surname and mocked her, while she was out shopping.
It said a series of steps would be urgently undertaken to stop unacceptable, inflammatory remarks by the EFF.
"There is a real danger as they filter beyond cyberspace and become physical threats. Criticism is part of democracy, but hate speech and sexually abusive threats online and bullying are out of order and can endanger the lives of journalists." Sanef said.
