Cops give journalist ‘a hiding’

One moment Free State journalist Paul Nthoba was snapping a picture of police officers on patrol near the Caledon River which separates South Africa and Lesotho and the next he was allegedly being beaten for taking the picture.

Nthoba, who is the editor of the Mohokare News – named after the Sesotho word for the Caledon River – says he then went to the police station in Ficksburg to lay a charge of assault against the officers. He said at the station he was threatened with a Disaster Management Act infraction.

He says he has audio of the alleged incident.

He was at the river last Friday because some locals had complained that policing in the area was too slack. When he saw the officers he thought: “Oh look, that’s a nice shot – there are policemen.”

He took the picture, planning to use it with an article.

“I was going to ask them, ‘how are you doing?’,” he said.

One of the police officers responded with a deeply offensive swear word and the tone changed as he told him he felt insulted.

Another officer, who Nthoba regarded as the senior among them, allegedly then instructed his colleagues to assault Nthoba.

“That’s when I realised I was going to get a hiding,” he said.

They allegedly beat him and left him. Nthoba said he then went to the police station to lay a complaint of assault against them.

Nthoba said he tried to take a picture when other officers entered the police station and they objected. He claimed he was dragged to a cell and told he would be charged under the Disaster Management Act.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Sontaga Seisa confirmed a journalist had laid a complaint of assault, but added the police had laid a counter complaint, alleging he did not have a permit to be out. These will be investigated.

Nthoba said he has a permit, but was not asked to show it during any of the exchanges.

Ultimately, a case of allegedly obstructing the police in carrying out their duties was opened against him.

Nthoba said he had to go to hospital, did not sleep well on Friday night and was still shaken up by the whole experience.

The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said it had a recording of the altercation and was very disturbed by it.

Sanef noted that community media platforms presented critical alternatives to mainstream print and broadcasting, which “play an important role in diversifying the media, profiling local voices, reflecting local struggles, and building communities by holding local authorities to account.

“We believe ... security authorities should apply a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment towards all our media.” – News24 Wire