Niël Terblanché
The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) has strongly condemned what it describes as a systematic and orchestrated campaign of repression and victimisation targeting journalists in Namibia.
The case of senior journalist Jemima Beukes has drawn widespread outrage, with FAJ labelling it as an assault on press freedom, labour rights, and gender equality in the media sector.
Beukes, who serves as Secretary General of the Federation of Southern African Journalists (FeSAJ) and Acting Secretary General of the Namibia Media Professionals Union (NAMPU), has built a reputation for her fearless investigative journalism and commitment to holding power to account.
However, her critical reporting on Namibia’s Green Hydrogen project has resulted in what FAJ describes as brutal workplace repression by her employer, Network Media Hub (NMH).
FAJ has received reports that Beukes has faced ongoing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation simply for carrying out her journalistic duties.
In September 2024, NMH’s executive director allegedly removed her from covering the Green Hydrogen project, accusing her of “negative reporting,” a move FAJ believes was aimed at silencing her.
She was subsequently barred from covering the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and had her accreditation for an international Green Hydrogen conference secretly withdrawn by NMH.
FAJ further claims that NMH’s management actively undermined Beukes’ credibility by falsely portraying her as biased.
The Federation has also raised concerns about gender bias in Namibian newsrooms.
It pointed to Beukes’ removal from Green Hydrogen coverage and the subsequent reassignment of the story to two male journalists as evidence of systematic discrimination.
Beukes has also alleged racial discrimination after being excluded from a promotion opportunity for Deputy News Editor, despite being more qualified than the eventual appointee.
Determined to challenge the injustice, Beukes filed a formal grievance with NMH on 17 September 2024. FAJ claims that instead of receiving due process, she was subjected to a kangaroo process manipulated by NMH’s leadership.
According to FAJ, the company violated its own grievance procedures, allowing the Executive Director—against whom Beukes had filed the complaint—to oversee the case.
The hearing was chaired by an individual from a consultancy retained by NMH, raising concerns about impartiality and fairness.
Matters escalated in December 2024 when Beukes was placed on unpaid sick leave and threatened with financial insecurity, despite NMH continuing to publish her work.
FAJ asserts that Beukes’ case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of racial and gender-based discrimination within Namibia’s media industry.
“The targeting of Jemima Beukes is not just an attack on one journalist, but a disgraceful violation of human and labour rights against journalists. It is an attempt to silence independent journalism and force journalists into submission through intimidation, discrimination, and economic coercion,” said FAJ President Omar Faruk Osman.
The Federation is calling for urgent intervention, demanding an independent investigation into Beukes’ grievances in accordance with Namibian labour laws and international standards.
It also insists on the immediate cessation of disciplinary proceedings against her and an end to racial and gender-based discrimination in the media sector.
FAJ has pledged to mobilise regional and international support to ensure Beukes receives justice.
“We call on the government of Namibia, civil society organisations, trade unions, and human rights organisations to take a stand against this blatant injustice,” Osman declared.
FAJ warned that continued attacks on journalists undermine not only the profession but also the democratic principles upon which Namibia prides itself.
