Johannesburg -eNCA journalists covering the Tshwane protests were shaken on Wednesday night after being robbed.
The robbery occurred a few seconds after Jody Jacobs and Thando Hlophe had wrapped up their live crossing.
Jacobs still had his earpiece on when the men robbed them allegedly in full view of community members who did not alert the police 100m away.
This robbery comes two weeks after two men captured live on TV last year robbing an SABC crew were handed 15-year sentences.
Speaking to The Star on Thursday morning, Jacobs said the incident indicated it was becoming more dangerous for journalists to tell protest stories.
“There were lots of people who saw what happened, but no one called the police. Maybe criminals have also instilled fear in people so the community is absolutely scared of doing something,” he said.
Jacobs said he and Hlophe were standing at the entrance to Mamelodi on the Eersterus side at 7pm when two men approached them and made small talk.
Then one of the men grabbed the camera still connected to a live kit and ran away.
Star photographer Nokuthula Mbatha was hurt on Tuesday when EFF leader Julius Malema visited Tembisa's Sethokga Hostel. Hostel dwellers pelted rocks and bottles at the EFF, police and journalists and as Mbatha fled, she was hit on the elbow.
The police were not available for comment.
@Mizzyb1
The Star