Nelspruit - The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) has rejected the ANC Youth League's semi-retraction of statements issued to intimidate whistleblowers earlier this week.
On Friday, the ANCYL in Mpumalanga changed a threatening statement they issued on Monday, in which they warned whistle-blowers to "book an early grave".
"The youth league wants to make it clear that we don't have guns that are itching to kill people.
"When we said machine gun, we were talking about the same tool that these campaigners use to attack us - the media," said provincial secretary of the league, Isaac Mahlangu on Friday.
"There are people who are campaigning to destroy the youth league and they attack us using the media.
"Our statements meant that we will attack them exactly where they are. We do not intend to literally kill anybody," he said.
Mahlangu argued that he would not implicate himself in murder by going to the media before it happens.
"And it must be clear that we are not attacking journalists, but those who go to journalists with information meant to make the movement look corrupt and evil. We are merely defending our good name," said Mahlangu.
