The ANC wants e.tv to help police arrest the criminals who threatened to rob World Cup tourists during interviews broadcast by the station recently.

WWW.iol.co.za reported yesterday that the ANC also called on e.tv to do the “honourable” thing and withdraw its broadcast featuring the interviews with self-confessed criminals.

“These criminals are not only a threat to tourists, but to the dreams and desires of South Africa and Africa to host a successful soccer world cup,” the ANC said.

“They are also a threat to the stability of South Africa and to each individual citizen of our country and to the democratic order that obtains in the country.

“It is for these reasons that these criminals and their ill intentions should be arrested.”

e.tv said on Tuesday that a man who killed himself in Soweto was an underworld connection who set up the interviews with the criminals that prompted police to subpoena the station.

The broadcast infuriated Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who accused the station of sensationalism and “harbouring” criminals, and prompted a debate about media freedom.

The police served subpoenas on eNews news editor Ben Said and reporter Mpho Lakaje in a bid to force them to reveal the identity of the two men, who appeared on air with their faces obscured.

In terms of the subpoenas, Said and Lakaje must appear in court next week unless they hand over unedited footage, the names and contact details of the men they interviewed, as well as information about the firearms shown in the programme.

“If e.tv does not safeguard the interests of the innocent people from all over the world… the interest and well-being of South Africans… they cannot be different from these criminals themselves…,” ANC national spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in the statement.

“They cannot hide behind journalistic ethics and media freedoms on such a security threat to our country and our visitors.

“It is very unfortunate that we have a media in the country that glorifies and publicise criminal intentions. The patriotism of such media is suspect,” he said.

The ANC reminded e.tv that the right to freedom of expression did not extend to the incitement of violence and criminality.

“The repeat broadcast of this footage promotes and justifies interests of criminals,” said Mthembu.

“Crime is one of the ANC foremost priorities, and the ANC will stop at nothing to make sure that we fully respond to any sign of discomfort caused by criminals.

“Anyone who does crime or harbours criminals are as equally involved in the perpetuation of crime,” he said.

The ANC reiterated that the World Cup would be safe and secure.

The South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies started security preparations in 2004 were intensifying them in the run-up to the event and were ready for any eventuality “including these criminals that were publicised by e.tv,” Mthembu said. – Sapa

Meanwhile one of the men interviewed by etv has committed suicide.

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