A fund to help support journalists who may find themselves in a similar situation to the#SABC8 will soon be birthed.

Civil society group, SOS Coalition, has announced that it’s setting up the Journalist Protection Fund, to offer legal and financial support to journalists who find themselves in a dispute with their employees.

“We note with grave concern the emergence of similar patterns of censorship, unfair labour practices as well as racism in the privately owned media,” Sekoetlane Phamodi, National Coordinator of the SOS Coalition, said in a statement.

“In ANN7, for example, nine workers – the so-called ANN7 9 – remain out of work battling their unfair dismissals at the privately owned broadcaster. There are also resounding complaints of censorship by their bosses and unfair labour practices including unfair racial discrimination against Black workers,” Phamodi added.

Phamodi added that the SOS Coalition is resolute that every media organisation has an obligation to eradicate racist practices and that media workers must be allowed their constitutional right to freely associate, including joining unions.

“To this end, we are saying it is clear that South African journalists and media freedom are under attack,” he said.

Phamodi explained to htxt.africa that the fund will pay forward the outpouring of support the SABC 8 received from the public and community of journalists by way of legal and/or financial support where those across the sector are facing similar assaults to their workers’ and professional rights.

Earlier this month, a fundraiser was set up to help support the fired journalists.

“The disbursement framework for the fund is currently being established by the SABC8 after which we will be able to provide further details when it is launched,” he said.