28 October 2008

Alert

Swazi journalist harassed, his photos deleted by police while covering border protest


Incident details

Sisho Magagula

journalist(s)

(MISA/IFEX) - On 27 October 2008 Sisho Magagula, a journalist with the state-owned "Swazi Observer" newspaper was harassed and had his digital camera confiscated and prints deleted by South African police while covering a border blockade protest by Swazi and South Africa trade unions. This harassment took place at the Swaziland and South Africa border post of Oshoek.

According to Magagula, the police demanded to know why he was taking pictures in South Africa when he was a Swazi journalist. His explanation that the Swazi press had an interest in the issue as the border blockade was targeted at Swaziland fell on deaf ears.

The officers forcibly grabbed Magagula's camera and went on to delete all pictures before handing it back to him. The journalist said his appeals to the police superiors present were ignored. Magagula says he was shaken by the ordeal.



Source:

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