SANEF Condemns the Robbery at a Television Station’s Studios

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) condemns the robbery that took place at the studios of INX Prime, on Monday night in Houghton, Johannesburg.

The station has informed SANEF that staff members were held at gunpoint by several armed robbers. No staff member was injured.
INX Prime, which broadcasts across sub-Saharan Africa and can be accessed through DStv on channel 345, told SANEF a large amount of broadcast equipment such as computers and TV screens were stolen during the military-style robbery.
Recently, SANEF has witnessed how journalists get robbed when covering stories, and how several broadcast media have been targeted, with expensive equipment being stolen by brazen criminals.

INX Prime, which has only been on air for four months, will get counselling for its traumatised staff members who were held at gunpoint during the robbery.

Sbu Ngalwa, SANEF’s chairperson, said: “Crime continues to be one of the biggest scourges in SA, with journalists and their equipment not spared. We hope that the latest unfortunate robbery would spur the police to act and seek to arrest these criminals.”

The station has assured SANEF it is currently looking at how security measures can be improved to prevent future incidents from happening. A criminal case has been opened with the SA Police Service.

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 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
• Nwabisa Makunga – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 555-1972
• Tshamano Makhadi – Treasurer-General (082) 223 0621
• Makhudu Sefara – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (079) 177-2134
• Katy Katopodis – SANEF Wellness and Safety Chair (082) 805-7022
• Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
• Dr. Glenda Daniels – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (083) 229-9708
• Rochelle De Kock – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (072) 969-8028
• Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695