Johannesburg - The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) on Tuesday criticised the Joburg metro police department (JMPD) for allegedly harassing and threatening two journalists.
eNCA cameraman Pierre le Roux and Beeld photographer Cornel van Heerden were filming and taking photographs of JMPD officers arresting an alleged drunk driver outside the high court in Joburg.
Two officers told the journalists they had no right to film and ordered them to stop, according to Sanef.
In the ensuing altercation, Le Roux’s camera was damaged after an officer allegedly tried to grab it. The officer also threatened to arrest Le Roux, Sanef said.
Van Heerden got away after also being accosted.
The officers let go of the journalists after another JMPD officer in civilian clothes arrived.
“This behaviour is completely unacceptable and an infringement of the constitutional rights of journalist to do their work in a free and open society,” Sanef said in a statement.
The organisation said it planned to discuss the matter with the JMPD management.
JMPD spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said he had not yet heard about the incident, but that the JMPD could investigate the incident by using CCTV footage if provided with the time and location.
The Star