Video: SABC, Metro Cops and City Power gang up on resident
SABC journalists trespass on property as electricity is cut off illegally.
A Florida resident, Greg Michael, is furious after an SABC journalist and her cameraman allegedly trespassed on his property while City Power officials were cutting his electricity illegally.
The incident came after the disgruntled tenants on the property refused to pay the increased rent. They went to the SABC hoping that the public broadcaster could help them with their grievances. On 4 February Michael received a call about the journalist and her cameraman being at his property. He and his daughter, Genevieve, went to the property and confronted the SABC team. The journalist refused to identify herself and also gave him the wrong contact number. During their conversation Genevieve realised the journalist must have been on the property before as she knew exactly what the house looked like inside.
The dispute between the tenants and Michael continued and eventually were brought before the Rental Tribunal. On 11 March Michael was attending a hearing of the tribunal when he started receiving frantic calls that Metro Police, SABC and City Power officials were on another one of his properties. Michael, his daughter and wife rushed to the scene and found the Metro Police, SABC and City Power staff inside the house.
Genevieve confronted the SABC team, but at first they refused either to leave the property or to stop filming. She asked the Metro Police officers to remove the journalist but they refused to act. Genevieve then started pushing the cameraman out of the house. She alleged that in the process he pushed her with his camera hard enough for it to bruise her arm. The SABC crew reluctantly left the premises and City Power officials continued to cut the power at the other properties Michael owns. This was illegal as Michael is currently in a dispute with the City over incorrect billing.
City Power spokesperson Yumna Sheik said she is responsible for sanctioning all requests by the media to accompany City officials, and that she never had given the SABC permission to go with the officials. She said the incident would be investigated.
The SABC journalist refused to speak to the Record and her producer Lungi Shivamba referred the Record to SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago. Kganyago said he knew nothing of the incident but would investigate it.
Metro Police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said Metro Police officials are allowed to enforce the by-laws by assisting City officials. This comment he made regardless of the fact that they were cutting Michael’s electricity illegally. On asking Minnaar whether it was acceptable that City Power officials and Metro Police entered the house without Michael being present, he said he “saw nothing wrong with it”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFnqrIQtoYo&feature=youtu.be
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