The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has released a statement condemning the arrest and assault of journalist and photographer Hein Coetzee of Die Son newspaper in Oudtshoorn on Tuesday night.
The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has released a statement condemning the arrest and assault of journalist and photographer Hein Coetzee of Die Son newspaper in Oudtshoorn on Tuesday night.
Coetzee was arrested on charges of crimen injuria and riotous behaviour which appear to have been dropped.
Coetzee was covering a mob attack on ANC provincial chairman Marius Fransman and took photographs of the mob chasing Fransman as he fled the scene with his police bodyguards.
Coetzee said after the police closed on him and arrested him they assaulted him and sprayed him with pepper.
The police also took possession of his cellphone and camera. He was later treated in hospital for his injuries before spending the night in a police cell. He was released at 10.30 on Wednesday.
Sanef which in the past has protested strongly to the Minister of Police Nathi Mthetwa and a former Police Commissioner when other journalists were arrested and detained while carrying out their journalistic duties takes strong exception at this latest detention and assault on a journalist while carrying out his duties," the statement read.
"There can be no question that he was part of the mob as he carried a camera and his documentation would immediately have confirmed his occupation as a journalist."
In the statement, Sanef approved of Coetzee laying a charge against the police with the full backing of his paper and condemned the police for disregarding their standing orders to assist journalists especially when covering disturbances and scenes of violence.
