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Altercation between police, SABC crew at Beitbridge

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The was an altercation between South African police and SABC TV crew at the entrance of Beitbridge border post into Zimbabwe on Friday. Journalists reporting about the situation in Zimbabwe have been receiving a hostile reception since Thursday. Two police officers literally blocked the lens of a live TV camera claiming that they are not allowed to report while facing the border. SABC’s camera operator Vanessa Langa and reporter Michael Maringa were left shocked by their conduct and they were threatened with being arrested.

Maringa was busy reporting for the Morning Live show when he was approached by two fuming police officers. An altercation then ensued between the police, Maringa and camera person Vanessa Langa.

Langa says, “They did not physically push me but they pushed my equipment and they started blocking our cameras while we were live on air and I submitted to what they wanted. I moved the camera to the other direction but they insisted that I switch it off. That is when they started blocking it with their caps and hands I felt that they were not professional. I even told them you guys you are not professional we are live on air and they started arguing and said I cannot tell them about their professionalism. They are supposed to protect us but they are meanwhile harassing us , how are South Africans and Zimbabweans and the rest of the world supposed to know what is happening if they are not letting us work.”

Meanwhile, Maringa says the actions of the police was disappointing, “I was surprised because that happens despite us having a being granted permission yesterday to come and work from here specifically for Morning Live. They pushed around our camera lady and forced her to point the camera to a different direction, it was so disappointing because they did that while we were live on air. It is so disappointing because it our very own police officers who were supposed to protect but and they are in the forefront of harassing us.”

Taxi operators came to the rescue of the two journalists. Peter Mudau says taxi drivers had to intervene and called police officers to order as they were harassing journalists.

Police have apologised to the media about the bad behaviour displayed by their colleagues at the Beit Bridge border into Zimbabwe this morning. Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says internal investigations are underway.

Meanwhile, the situation remains calm at the border. Few Zimbabweans have been crossing at the border for the past three days. Businesses in the Musina CBD and hawkers around the border have been negatively affected by the political stalemate in Zimbabwe. The number of citizens crossing to either side of the border is low.

Police and soldiers continue patrolling the area around the border.

 

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