SABC crew held against their will rescued by police

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) crew that was threatened, earlier on  Thursday, by community members in Buffelshoek, Bushuckridge in Mpumalanga, has been rescued by the police.

The crew was threatened by more than twenty people who appeared to be African National Congress (ANC) supporters.

The group also threatened to burn an SABC News vehicle and take the crew’s equipment. The crew was in the area on an election-related assignment.

The journalists were covering a service delivery election story in an area that is struggling with water provision.

The Mayor of Busbuckridge Municipality, Slyvia Nxumalo, has condemned the barbaric incident by these community members saying communities need to be educated about media freedom.

“It is unfortunate what happened in our municipality.  I think there is a need for people to be educated,” says Nxumalo.

Nxumalo says it is important for community members to know the role of the SABC in the community.

“They are here to make sure that people get information in every corner of this world. I think education needs to intensify to our public rep to understand the issue of the media,” says Slyvia Nxumalo.

VIDEO: SABC crew in Mpumalanga held against their will allegedly by ANC supporters