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SANEF Welcomes the Arrest of Suspects Following an Attack on Journalists at Fish Hoek Beach

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eNCA’s Monique Mortlock
Newzroom Afrika’s Athi Mthongana

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) welcomes the arrest of suspects following the attack on two journalists at Fish Hoek Beach over the weekend.

On Saturday, eNCA journalist Monique Mortlock was assaulted while attempting to interview an anti-mask protest organiser at Fish Hoek Beach. The man refused to speak to her and ripped her mask off, while another journalist, Athi Mtongana from Newzroom Afrika, was also attacked.

Monique Mortlock tweeted, “We are on Fish Hoek beach to cover the #WeAreMore protest against lockdown. But one of the organisers just assaulted me, even with officers around us. He refused to speak to me because I’m wearing a mask”. A demonstrator then threw her phone onto the ground when she attempted to conduct an interview.

Mtongana tweeted, “Protesters at Fish Hoek beach approached us and asked if we’re media. Told us that anyone wearing a mask supports paedophiles.” An old lady then proceeded to slap the phone out of her hand.

SANEF is encouraged to hear that about the swift interventions of law enforcement agencies who reacted to the shocking attack on the two women journalists at the weekend and arrested some of the demonstrators concerned. They will face charges relating to assault and crimen injuria. SANEF wishes to thank the SAPS for its prompt response.

SANEF notes that protesters took to the beach to call for an end to lockdown restrictions when the assault happened. However, some broke the law and endangered the lives of the journalists on the scene by forcing them to take off their masks. SANEF wishes to remind communities that forcefully removing someone’s mask is an infringement to their rights to safety by the same people who want their stories told.

SANEF is concerned that news reporters are being attacked by the same individuals who want their stories told and yet have no respect for media freedom and the rights of journalists to work without fear of intimidation and harassment.

The attacks on journalists by members of the public which is becoming a worrying trend.

SANEF calls on media houses to provide counselling and mental health care support to all journalists – particularly during the COVID Crisis. We once again thank the SAPS for stepping in and arresting those that broke the law and intimidated journalists.

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
  • Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610 9374
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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SANEF Strongly Condemns the Hostile Attack Against Newzroom Afrika Journalists

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) strongly condemns the hostile attack against Newzroom Afrika journalists who were prohibited by members of the South Africa Police Services (SAPS) from doing their job of covering the Diepsloot demolitions on 25 November 2020.
Journalist Mbali Thethani and cameraperson Muraga Mphaphuli were forcefully removed from the scene where they were covering the Diepsloot demolitions.

“While filming, we were asked to delete the footage and vacate the property because it was not ‘safe’. This is despite them having already completed 99% of the demolitions,” said Ms Thethani.
She stated she was speaking to the landlady (affected by the demolition) when police scolded and ordered them off the property. She said, “While making our way, my colleague Mphaphuli was manhandled, pushed and shoved by police.” A video showing the incident has since circulated on social media.

Thethani said there was no police barricade to direct journalists as to where they could operate. “It made it very difficult and prevented us from doing our jobs properly and informing the public at the same time.”

Gauteng SAPS spokesperson, Brig Mathapelo Peters said they have noted the circulating video clip and that an urgent internal investigation will be conducted to get to the bottom of the matter.

SANEF calls on senior officers in charge of these operations to brief their teams appropriately to allow the media to play its critical role of informing the public. We wish to strongly remind them that this is a right enshrined and protected in our constitution and one that must be adhered to under the COVID-19 lockdown rules.

SANEF is also working with the SAPS national team to revise the standing order 156 which deals with Media Communication in the SAPS. It will soon be replaced with new regulations guiding the relationship between the police and journalists.
We also wish to highlight the issue of journalists’ safety by referring all journalists and media organisations to the safety tips including on our SANEF website.

We call on all media organisations to ensure, wherever possible, that they provide trauma counselling for journalists who have been out on assignment. We reiterate the long-term damaging effects of untreated trauma. We have compiled a list of trauma and psychological services for journalists – these can also be accessed on our website.

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:

  • Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEF Chairperson, (083) 399-2852
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Deputy Chairperson, (082) 805-7022
  • Moipone Malefane – SANEF Secretary-General (082) 772-5861
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (073) 404-1415
  • Janet Heard – SANEF Western Cape Convenor (078) 041-9528
  • Hopewell Radebe – SANEF Gauteng Regional Convenor (083) 582-1734
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF