/ 15 February 2011

Cameraman injured in Mpumalanga protest

An e.tv cameraman was injured and an outside broadcast van was damaged when protesters turned on him and a reporter in Wesselton, outside Ermelo, on Tuesday, eNews reported.

Live television footage on the eNews channel showed a group stoning a police vehicle, which sped away, and then rushing toward the cameraman and journalist, who sought cover in their van.

The cameraman’s hand was bleeding and the vehicle’s windows were damaged.

Journalist Jody Jacobs told viewers that their laptops were also damaged.

Local government elections
Earlier, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlathi said the protests, believed to be over service-delivery issues, entered a second day on Tuesday.

He could not confirm reports in Beeld that the protests were related to the community being unhappy about the African National Congress’s candidate lists for the local government elections.

Thirty-three people were to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after they were arrested on Monday for public violence.

Hlathi said protesters barricaded roads by using burning tyres and stones on Monday.

“They broke down robots and some traffic signs.” — Sapa