Cops roughed up our reporter, says The Times

According to the newspaper, Lehlohonolo Tau was covering Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele's visit to Daveyton yesterday when he was targeted by the officers, one of whom allegedly hit him with an open hand.

Tau said he had followed local residents out of Sinaba Stadium to where they gathered to chant and burn tyres. Two metro police officers approached him and accused him of being part of a group responsible for public violence.

"I told them I was a reporter. The officers said I should have got permission from them to take pictures of residents singing and burning tyres," he said.

Tau said he was lifted off the ground and thrown into a police van.

An Ekurhuleni metro police spokesman said he was not aware of the incident.

"We will establish the facts," he said.

Source: The Times