‘The callousness of criminals targeting journalists continues, as reporters, out in the field covering various stories, get attacked by thugs hellbent on disregarding any law or respect for the work the media does, says the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) in an open letter.
Sanef is becoming increasingly concerned about this rising trend. ‘Since the date of the local government elections was announced, our newsrooms have sent out reporters to various areas, with some of these proving to be dangerous as reporting crews get robbed and attacked.’
Eyewitness News reporters Thando Kubheka and Xan Dookey visited Tembisa on an assignment to gauge from the community its priority services ahead of elections. When they were packing up, a thief kicked Kubheka, while robbing her of her cellphone.
Last Thursday an SABC crew, all women, were held hostage in Buffelshoek village outside Acornhoek, Mpumalanga, where they fortunately escaped unharmed. Days earlier, a news reporter and camera operator from eTV were robbed at gunpoint in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
Sanef is concerned that it is increasingly getting difficult and dangerous for news editors to deploy journalists to communities deserving coverage before election day on November 1.
Mahlatse Mahlase, group editor-in-chief at Eyewitness News, said it was worrying that news outlets must consider hiring security personnel for journalists to go out in the field to cover community issues on the ground.
“We appeal to communities to be the first line of defence for journalists where possible, understanding that we are under siege from criminals,” she said.
Sanef believes that the safety of journalists is intertwined with the general safety and wellbeing of communities whose stories they are out to cover.
Without journalists focusing on the plight of communities, local government stories go unreported.