By Kaya 959 Reporter
The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has called for the safety of journalists to be prioritised after a news crew was robbed while reporting live on air.
Newzroom Afrika’s Katy Katopodis said their Eastern Cape reporter and camera operator were robbed of all their belongings.
“They were live on air, while robbers broke into the news vehicle, stole equipment and their bags with all their clothing and personal goods inside,” Katopodis told Sanef.
Sanef condemned the criminality and called on law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute these criminals.
“The psychological impact such crimes have on reporting crews, or any worker for that matter, cannot be underestimated as the scars remain,” Sanef chairperson Sbu Ngalwa said.
ALSO READ: Eastern Cape’s R15 million stadium leaves Mzansi shook
Training for reporting crews
Sanef said it has seen how volatile it has become for news crews to go out and be allowed to do their jobs.
“The safety of journalists is paramount to Sanef, hence we will be seeking ways on how to best protect our news crews on the field. This latest crime, and many others, concern Sanef as we continue to find ways on training reporting crews when they go out to cover stories.
“Such training would largely focus on the safety of journalists and what to do when they go out to cover any story, riots, unrest, service delivery protests and political rallies,” Sanef said.
Earlier this year, an eNCA news crew was robbed while they were reporting on service delivery in Khayelitsha. The team’s cell phones and camera kit were taken. Police said the team was robbed by four armed men as they were packing away their equipment. No shots were fired, police added
ALSO READ: SAFA in talks to allow fully vaccinated spectators at soccer matches



