Africa-Press – South-Africa. Daily Dispatch and Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition journalists in the Eastern Cape were robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday.
According to Cheri-Ann James, the editor of the publications, the reporters were on the R72 in Chalumna, outside East London, to cover a story about the challenges school children face on their way to school.
A robber allegedly emerged from bushes and pointed a gun at the photographer, who captured images from behind the group.
According to SA National Editor’s Forum spokesperson Sbu Ngalwa, “the assailant” pointed his firearm at the photographer, who managed to escape the immediate danger by fleeing the scene.
He added:
The robber vandalised the team’s vehicle by smashing its windows and stole laptops, the reporter’s bag, and a camera.
Ngalwa said Chalumna police responded swiftly and recovered the stolen items. One person has since been taken in for questioning.
Although the team was shaken, no one was physically harmed, James added.
She said:
According to Ngalwa, attacks on journalists threaten the country’s democracy and he has appealed to communities to protect members of the media and press freedom.
He said continued threats against journalists could negatively impact the coverage of general elections in rural areas next year.
“Sanef is seriously concerned that with national and provincial elections looming next year, rural and peri-urban areas end up not being fairly and properly covered because of incidents like this. Some communities then suffer from an information blackout,” he added.
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