(MISA/IFEX) – The South African Press Association (SAPA) offices were robbed in the early hours of 20 October 2002, bringing editorial operations to a complete halt. Reports say that at least five men, one of them armed with a pistol, overpowered a gate guard and forced their way into the Greenside-Johannesburg editorial offices of the […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The South African Press Association (SAPA) offices were robbed in the early hours of 20 October 2002, bringing editorial operations to a complete halt.
Reports say that at least five men, one of them armed with a pistol, overpowered a gate guard and forced their way into the Greenside-Johannesburg editorial offices of the news agency at about 2:00 a.m. (local time) on 20 October. SAPA editor Mark van der Velden said Nombuso Dlamini, who was working the late shift, was tied up with computer cables. Her younger brother, who was keeping her company with two of his friends while they studied for school exams, was also tied up.
The robbers then went through the newsroom and computer room and stole vital equipment, damaging the agency’s communications system, interrupting the reception and distribution of information. Nobody was injured in the incident.
At least 16 computer workstations were either removed or damaged. “All electronic equipment of any value was taken, right down to the coffee machine and one of our technician’s spectacles,” the editor said.
It was not immediately possible to put an accurate value on the stolen goods, and SAPA staff were still assessing the damage. However, Van der Velden estimated that the value of the goods taken could be in the region of R200,000 (about US$19,299). SAPA’s technical staff managed to cobble together enough of a system to set up a skeleton service by noon on 20 October.
MISA-South Africa expressed its shock at the disturbing incident and the effect it had on the distribution of news to South African citizens and international subscribers.
Background Information
SAPA is South Africa’s independent national news agency, owned as a co-operative by most of South Africa’s major newspapers. It gathers, edits and distributes news and information around the clock to supply newspapers, radio, television and foreign news operations.
The robbery took place as South African media practitioners commemorated Media Freedom Day and the 25th anniversary of the banning of “The World” and “Weekend World” newspapers by the nationalist government.
