Johannesburg - The SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) expressed concern on Monday over the arrest of the editor of The Informer community newspaper in the Eastern Cape.
Andile Nomabhunga, 45, who edits the publication in the Alfred Nzo district, was arrested for trespassing on November 28 and released the same day on a warning, Sanef said in a statement.
He would appear in the Matatiele Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Sanef chairman Mpumelelo Mkhabela said Nomabhunga wrote a story about municipal manager Nontsikelelo Matubatuba's alleged abuse of the municipal budget.
“The story claimed that Matubatuba had used funds from the municipal budget allocated for music talent development, to build a music studio in her home,” said Mkhabela.
Mkhabela said Nomabhunga went to Matubatuba's house and took pictures in the studio and interviewed her before publishing the story.
“At no stage was there any suggestion that he was trespassing,” he said.
He was arrested in his office six days later.
Mkhabela said police were acting on a complaint which had no substance, and this appeared to be an attempt to harass and intimidate Nomabhunga for publishing a story that was in the public's interest.
Sapa