A South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) crew was allegedly held against their will and threatened by African National Congress (ANC) supporters in Buffelshoek, Bushuckridge in Mpumalanga on 21 October 2021. The news crew had to be rescued by the police.
According to the SABC news website, the ANC supporters, numbering about 20, threatened to burn the broadcaster’s vehicle and take the crew’s equipment.
South Africa is due to hold local government elections in November and the news crew was in the area on an election-related assignment. The journalists were covering a service delivery election story in an area that is struggling with water provision, the SABC reported.
MISA position
MISA reiterates its position that journalists should be allowed to carry out their duties without hindrance.
As elections draw closer in South Africa, it is incumbent on political leaders to ensure that journalists and the media are allowed to carry out their duties without undue interference.
South Africa is a beacon of media freedom in the region, however, this year it has recorded an unprecedented jump in media violations, a situation that is cause for great concern.
Source: MISA Zimbabwe
