- SABC journalist strangled and slapped by former president Jacob Zuma's supporters in Nkandla.
- Acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane expresses concern about Nkandla gathering.
- Sanef outraged by attack on journalists at Nkandla.
Journalists stationed outside former president Jacob Zuma's home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, have allegedly been targeted by his followers.
Gatherings that flout the Disaster Management Act have been ongoing over the weekend in Nkandla.
Zuma's followers gathered to support him after the Constitutional Court ruled that he must serve 15 months in prison for not appearing before the State Capture Inquiry.
The gatherings raised the ire of acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, who, in a tweet, said she was worried about the increase in Covid-19 cases that would follow the gathering.
Kubayi-Ngubane said after protests in Johannesburg and Pretoria previously, cases shot up.
I shutter to think of the after effect of Nkandla gathering with the current variant. After the Pretoria March, Court Protest in Joburg & Marches in Soweto we saw numbers surge to above 26000 last night. pic.twitter.com/GiIOkD3N4o
— Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi (@mmkubayi) July 4, 2021
Amid the singing and dancing by Zuma's supporters, journalists were targeted.
SABC political journalist Samkele Maseko was interrupted by an uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association member during a live broadcast. In the video, Maseko tells the man that he is not a real soldier. "This is not a banana republic."
Hebanna! reporters go through the most to get us the story. @SABCNews appreciation post #ZumaJudgement #amabutho #bekelebeke #ZumaConCourtRuling pic.twitter.com/Xk9ZHPffU9
— Lerato (@LeratoMabs) July 3, 2021
On Sunday, Maseko said he was slapped and strangled. "A supporter of former president Jacob Zuma slapped and strangled me. I was accused of being a sell-out and trying to destroy ANC leaders."
Maseko said he had no intention of opening a case against the assailant. "I just want this over and done with."
He said the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) chairperson Sbu Ngalwa witnessed the attack and had been a great support for journalists working in Nkandla.
Ngalwa said:
Sanef said it was outraged by the attacks on journalists.
"Since Friday, journalists have come under severe attacks while waiting for law enforcement agencies to execute a Constitutional Court ruling. Apart from supporters swearing and hurling verbal taunts at journalists, Edward Zuma also threatened to burn one of the media vehicles parked outside his father’s house.
"We remind all supporters and the Zuma family and other former ANC leaders who also pitched up to support the former president, that journalists have a right to cover the events. They were not trespassing, nor did they breach any privacy or court regulations."
Phathiswa Magopeni, SABC's group executive of news and current affairs, said:
National police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure had enhanced the operational capacity in KwaZulu-Natal in response to gatherings at Nkandla.
"During the deployment, SAPS commanders and members on the ground have been provided clear and concise directives that responses to any and all situations must be informed by proper analysis. To this end, every situation will be assessed and dealt with on its own merit."