PHOTOS: Sanef outraged by attack on journalists

It is alleged an eNCA camera man and Beeld photographer were threatened by two Johannesburg Metro Police Department officers for filming and photographing the arrest of a drunk driver outside the South Gauteng High Court on Tuesday.

 

According to Sanef the camera man and photographer approached the scene of the arrest and the two officers became aggressive and told them they had no right to be filming and taking pictures.

 

Sanef Media Freedom Sub-Committee Chairperson Adriaan Basson says they will take up the matter with the JMPD management as the incident was unlawful and unconstitutional.

 

“It is the right for journalists to do be able to perform their duties in the public domain.  They were threatened with arrest, manhandled and their equipment was also damaged. Sanef will take this matter up with the managing of JMPD as a matter of urgency,” he says.

 

This incident comes two weeks after Sanef and Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega held a meeting to discuss reports of harassment and intimidation of journalists by police at crime scenes.

 

Both Sanef and the police agreed to continue to work together to understand each other’s role and stop the harassment of journalists by police officers.

 

 

(eNCA cameraman Pierre le Roux ) 

 

(eNCA cameraman Pierre le Roux ) 

 

 

(eNCA cameraman Pierre le Roux ) 

 

 

(Cornel Van Heerden Beeld Photographer)

 

(Edited by Sune Du Toit)

File photos: Cornel Van Heerden (Beeld Photographer)

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