by Thinus Ferreira
The South African public broadcaster reports that a SABC News (DStv 404) crew consisting of two female journalists and a female camera operator held hostage and threatened by ANC supporters in Mpumalanga have been rescued by the South African police.
According to the SABC, around 20 ANC supporters in the community of Buffelshoek in Bushbuckridge held a SABC News crew hostage who were in the area to do coverage of the upcoming local municipal elections in South Africa.
The hostage takers threatened to burn the SABC News crew's vehicle and to take their equipment. They also demanded that the SABC News crew delete footage of interviews they had already done.
The SABC News crew were busy doing interviews when the people approached and refused to let them leave, saying that the news crew "neglected" to interview the specific ward councillor in the area.
The police had to rescue SABC News' Nhlamulo Mabaso, Lungile Nqcongwane and Motsebi wa Monareng and escort them to safety.
Slyvia Nxumalo, the mayor of the Bushbuckridge municipality, told SABC News that "it is unfortunate what happened in our municipality. I think there is a need for people to be educated".
"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 to understand the issue of the media."
