The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has condemned the attack and manhandling of two journalists, allegedly at the hands of Metro Police, in Durban while they were covering a protest in support of suspended eThekwini Mayor, Zandile Gumede.
Independent Newspaper Group’s political Journalist Sihle Mavuso was allegedly assaulted and arrested by Metro Police during the protest.
Freelance journalist, Desiree Erasmus who captured the arrest on camera stated that she thought police might not have been aware that Mavuso was a journalist.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: eThekwini Committee meeting cancelled as Durban Mayor supporters block City Hall
ENCA journalist, Siphamandla Goge was also reportedly manhandled and roughed up by Metro Police officers.
Supporters of Zandile Gumede, whom the ANC provincial leadership has placed on special leave amid charges of fraud and corruption relating to a R208m Durban Solid Waste Tender, were protesting in central Durban, where police fired stun grenades to disperse them.
The party is still to finalise when she will return to her duties, however protestors, who anticipated that she would return to her duties yesterday, gathered in the city’s West street.
ALSO READ: Durban municipality warns of fake fund-raiser for Mayor Gumede
This was not the first time that journalists covering matters relating to the Mayor have “come under attack”, SANEF said in the statement released on Thursday.
At previous protests journalists were verbally threatened by supporters. SANEF has called on the ANC leadership in KwaZulu-Natal to take swift action against their members who “disregard the role of the media and continue to attack journalists”.
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
