SANEF Outraged by Attack on PE Journalist

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is outraged and deeply disturbed by the violent attack of Daily Sun journalist Luvuyo Mehlwana in Port Elizabeth’s Northern Areas this morning.
Mehlwana was covering a protest march by parents against the Eastern Cape Education Department when the march turned violent. The parents were protesting against an alleged shortage of teachers in their schools.

Protesters started pelting police and civilian vehicles with stones and turned their attention to Mehlwana as he was making his way to the company vehicle. It is unclear whether his attackers were part of the protesting parents.

Mehlwana was hit on the head from the back and fell down. His attackers trampled on him and robbed him of his laptop, camera, wallet and cell phone. He sustained serious injuries. His camera was recovered, but the pictures and video on it had been deleted. Mehlwana has since opened a case of assault and theft at the Algoa Park police station. SANEF will closely monitor the investigation by the police.

SANEF would like to take this opportunity to remind communities that journalists’ primary responsibilities are to give expression to the public’s right to know. And such expression is infringed by any conduct that seek to prevent journalists from carrying out their duties. It is therefore in the interests of the community for journalists to be protected from such criminal elements.

For more enquiries please contact
Adriaan Basson
Chairperson Media Freedom Committee
(082) 562-2113

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