(MISA/IFEX) – South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers have again targeted freelance journalist and columnist with the “Public Eye” newspaper, Naleli Ntlama, for alleged harassment. On 26 November 1998, SANDF soldiers were seen at Ntlama’s house. The journalist was absent from his home at the time. The soldiers left a message with Ntlama’s neighbours […]
(MISA/IFEX) – South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers have
again targeted freelance journalist and columnist with the “Public Eye”
newspaper, Naleli
Ntlama, for alleged harassment. On 26 November 1998, SANDF soldiers were
seen at Ntlama’s house. The journalist was absent from his home at the time.
The soldiers left a message with Ntlama’s neighbours saying “they will be
back for him tonight.”
**Updates IFEX alert of 4 November 1998**
When the neighbours asked what they wanted, the soldiers told them that
Ntlama had opened a case against them saying that they had destroyed his
property and they wanted evidence of that destruction.
When Ntlama arrived at his village that same afternoon, neighbours told him
that the SANDF had been to his house. In fear for his life, Ntlama did not
sleep home that night. To this day he still has not gone home but the SANDF
continued to search for him over the weekend of 27 to 29 November.
On 27 November, members of the Media Institute of Lesotho (MILES), of which
Ntlama is a member, went to the headquarters of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) allied forces to protest the continued
harassment of Ntlama at the hands of the SANDF forces. One of the commanding
officers, Lt. Col. Thulaganyo Masisi, informed the protesters that he knew
nothing of the two incidents against Ntlama.
“I am in charge of operations, and I know nothing of the incidents that you
are talking about,” Masisi told MILES. He confirmed that the actions against
Ntlama were illegal. He added that the would personally see to it that the
matter was investigated. MILES has further learnt that the police in Lesotho
are also looking for Ntlama, but because of his fears, he is reluctant to
meet with any member of the armed or security forces. Ntlama is
contemplating taking legal action against the SANDF/SADC forces.
Background Information
This is the second illegal incident committed by the SANDF against Ntlama.
The first incident occurred on 3 November, when SANDF soldiers were seen
breaking down the door of Ntlama’s house, entering and proceeding to search
his house in his absence and without a warrant.
The matter was reported to the local chief the following day and to the
local police on 5 November. However, it was only on 18 November that the
police came to view the scene of the crime.
In one of Ntlama’s recent columns in the “Public Eye” newspaper, he
described the arrival of South African troops in Lesotho as an invasion and
their continued stay in the country as an occupation. The “Public Eye” was
one of several independent newspapers whose offices were ransacked and
looted of all their equipment during the political mayhem which followed the
invasion of the foreign forces.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
South African forces
found to
be true, recommending swift action be taken against those soldiers
responsible for these illegal acts
Appeals To
President Nelson Mandela
Fax: +27 12 323 8246 / +27 21 461 4987The Minister of Safety and Security
Mr. S. Mufamadi
Fax: +27 21 461 2594 / +27 12 339 2819/20The Deputy Minister of Defence
Mr. R. Kasrils
Fax: +27 12 347 0118 / +27 21 455 870Chairperson, Joint Standing Committee on Defence
Mr. T.S. Yengeni
Fax: +27 21 403 2074Chairperson, Portfolio Committee on Defence
Mr. P.J. Groenewald
Fax: +27 21 462 2153
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
