Times journalist arrested

4 Aug 2010

NEWSWATCH: In a scene eerily reminiscent of events comparatively recently experienced in Zimbabwe, a Sunday Times reporter, Mzilikazi wa Afrika, has been arrested outside the Avusa head office, and, according to the newspaper's editor, Ray Hartley, while it has assigned lawyers to represent him, it has so far had no success in establishing on what charges wa Afrika was arrested and - more sinister - where he is being held. [video]

Mzilikazi wa Afrika being arrested at Avusa offices by the Hawks. Photograph by: Sunday Times

For more:

Times Live: Sunday Times reporter arrested... Apparently lawyers say police claim wa Afrika was arrested for being in possession of a fraudulent letter of resignation from Mpumalanga premier David Dabede Mabuza to President Jacob Zuma - so why, then, won't the police say where he is being held? It's not exactly a case of national security, now is it?
Times Live: Sunday Times statement on arrested reporter... Ray Hartley, editor, says in his statement "I am deeply concerned at the fact that a journalist can be arrested and held at an undisclosed location in a country where the rule of law ought to apply." Indeed - we should all be deeply concerned.
Times Live: Two other journalists arrested in Mpumalanga
Memeburn: breaks news of journo's arrest in Sunday Times newsroom
News.24: SANEF takes up media fight... The SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) plans to go down fighting over the proposed Protection of Information bill and has drawn up a plan of action to oppose what Raymond Louw describes as "a horrifying list of repressive acts against the media by the government."
Times Live: ANCYL 'fully supports media tribunal'... Well, what a surprise... the followers of the 'King of Bling' and for whom a last resort when engaged in "debate" appears to be dropping their pants, supports the establishment of a media tribunal. Who would have thought it?
Times Live: SACP's Cronin backs punitive media tribunal but says publications, not reporters, should be targeted