SANEF Condemns Thugs’ Brazen Robbery of Radio Station

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) condemns the robbery at Westside FM 98.9 MHz in Kagiso, Mogale City, in the early hours of Sunday.

The thugs targeted the community radio station and held a presenter at gunpoint, as they ransacked valuables, which include five full sets of desktop computers, on air and production personal computers, a speaker, and three headphones.

This is the second robbery in weeks as Westside FM was one of five community radio stations that were looted during last month’s unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

It is appalling that criminals are targeting a community asset that serves residents of Kagiso and surrounds. As a case has been opened, we call on the South African Police Service to speedily investigate to ensure arrests and prosecution of the five thugs.

We would also like to appeal to the community to help the police with any information that can lead to the arrest of the thieves.

SANEF calls on South Africans to assist Westside FM 98.9 MHz with key and much needed equipment such as desktop computers or laptops or speakers as they seek to retain the same quality of delivering much needed information and content to the community.

Westside FM 98.9 MHz was one of the five radio stations specially recognised at the recently held Nat Nakasa Awards, where courageous journalism was celebrated. All five stations were awarded R20 000 towards the purchase of some of the damaged or stolen equipment during the unrest.

Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information please contact:

• Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
• Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
• Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary General (083) 399-2852
• Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
• Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
• Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610 9374
• Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
• Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
• Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
• Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director – (071) 682-3695

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Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF