The South African National Editors’ Forum yesterday expressed grave concern over the alleged shooting of one journalist and injuries to another covering farm-worker protests in the Western Cape this week.
Mandla Mnyakama, a photographer from the Daily Sun, was allegedly shot in the back with a rubber bullet by police while covering unrest near Robertson in the Western Cape. Other journalists on the scene confirmed the incident, Sanef said in a statement.
During the same protest, Lulama Zenzile, a photographer at Die Burger, was injured while standing 20 metres from the police. He was taken to a clinic, and after X-rays confirmed that his nose was not broken, he was discharged.
Mnyakama was hurt but has made it clear to us that his primary concern was the treatment he received from the police while doing his duty in an effort to inform the public about a story of critical importance, the statement said.
The Forum is seeking further information about the incidents. At the time of going to press they had not yet received any official response from the police.
The South African National Editors’ Forum yesterday expressed grave concern over the alleged shooting of one journalist and injuries to another covering farm-worker protests in the Western Cape this week.
Mandla Mnyakama, a photographer from the Daily Sun, was allegedly shot in the back with a rubber bullet by police while covering unrest near Robertson in the Western Cape. Other journalists on the scene confirmed the incident, Sanef said in a statement.
During the same protest, Lulama Zenzile, a photographer at Die Burger, was injured while standing 20 metres from the police. He was taken to a clinic, and after X-rays confirmed that his nose was not broken, he was discharged.
Mnyakama was hurt but has made it clear to us that his primary concern was the treatment he received from the police while doing his duty in an effort to inform the public about a story of critical importance, the statement said.
The Forum is seeking further information about the incidents. At the time of going to press they had not yet received any official response from the police.
