The journalist, who was at the time standing on the bridge, was taking pictures about 50m away from the scene, before a SAPS officer ordered him to move away and to no longer take photos.
“I moved away to stand at the end of the bridge on the other side of the N17.
I was then again approached by the officer who first pushed me against the guardrail and then dragged me down to the highway,” says Mthupha.
“The officer then grabbed my camera and tried to erase the photos. I, however, held on tightly, even trying to remove the memory card as to preserve the photos.
“The plastic covering on the view finder broke off in the struggle.
“Luckily a paramedic, who was officially on the scene, arrived to defuse the confrontation, explaining to the officer that I had the right as the media to take photos. I then left the scene with my camera and memory card intact.”
The matter was brought by the Advertiser to the attention of Brakpan cluster commander Brig Wessie van der Westhuizen, who said he cannot condone such unlawful behaviour within the SAPS.
He promised that action will be taken against those involved.
At the scene, police were investigating what appears to be a suicide by a 24-year-old woman who jumped off the pedestrian bridge crossing over the N17 highway.
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