NATIONAL NEWS - The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) condemned attacks on Caxton journalist Tshepiso Mametela from Joburg East Express and SABC journalist Sashin Naidoo on Monday, 2 September.
On Tuesday the media reported that the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) had also expressed concern after Mametela, a member of FCJ, suffered damages while covering the outbreak of violence in Johannesburg.
Mametela was reporting on the violence and looting of shops in Jeppestown when his vehicle was damaged and his camera bag, containing camera equipment, was taken from him.
“What happened to this journalist is ultimately a crime. Journalists need the tools of their trade to do their jobs. They need their cameras. They need vehicles,” said FCJ executive director Hugo Redelinghuys.
“It is concerning that this journalist covered the news at the cost of suffering damages. Journalists should be able to live out their passion for reporting the news without the fear of intimidation or risk,” said Redelinghuys.
Mametela suspects the car was damaged by another vehicle trying to get out of the area.
In a statement released by Sanef, it is explained that Naidoo was also covering the violent looting in Jeppestown and Malvern.
“He managed to escape from looters without being personally harmed, but his car was severely damaged by looters. Naidoo was on his way to a briefing with Police Minister Bheki Cele.
“Sanef is relieved that both Mametela and Naidoo weren’t harmed, but we are concerned that journalists are more frequently being attacked and more frequently being caught in the crossfire of violent attacks.
“Sanef believes that it is essential that violent protests and looting are covered – and covered in depth – so that citizens understand the reasons behind the looting, the triggers and, ultimately, how to stop this in the future.
“As Sanef we are committed to supporting media companies to provide training and support to ensure the safety of journalists. Sanef believes that it is essential that members of the public are educated to understand the role of the media in covering stories, including the role of the media in covering protests, incidents of violence, looting and so forth. Journalists need to be protected by citizens so that they can move freely – and so they can ask the hard questions, talk truth to power and, ultimately, get to the bottom of why these violent incidents are happening, including ways to stop the violence and remedies to the deep underlying causes,” Sanef stated.
“Journalists should be able to live out their passion for reporting the news without the fear of intimidation or risk,” said Hugo Redelinghuys, executive director of the FCJ.
