South African National Editors’ Forum is launching a relief fund for journalists who’ve lost their livelihoods as a result of the COVID-19 disaster.
On Thursday, SANEF said the mobile network MTN contributed half a millon rand to the funds.
“In making the announcement today, we want to express our warm gratitude to MTN SA for their contribution of R500,000 to start the fund and for their further commitment to lobby other corporates to contribute”, forum’s chairperson Mahlatse Mahlase said.
To process the application, SANEF has set up a team with the help of a financial services company.
Freelance, contract or permanently employed journalists who have been retrenched or had their contracts cancelled since the implementation of the national lockdown will only be eligible to apply.
The purpose of this funding is to assist those in dire need with a small donation to buy necessities like food and clothing, and thus ultimately to assist all citizens to get the information they need.
