TENSIONS between police and media flared in Qunu yesterday as journalists were told to move from land along the N2 detour which bypasses Nelson Mandela’s house.
This follows an order by police on Wednesday that journalists occupying houses in the village had to move. A reporter said police had conducted door-to-door searches to ensure everyone had heeded the call.
Yesterday journalists set up on the opposite side of the road from a police cordon barring people from entering the village, about a kilometre from Mandela’s house.
When a Dispatch team arrived members from various media houses were involved in a heated exchange with police.
ENCA TV news cameraman Nceba Ntlanganiso and reporter Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni said they were filming in the village when police ordered them to move.
“I’m very disappointed in GCIS ,” said Ntlanganiso. “We were told to go to the Qunu Museum which is far away.”
An irate Mkani-Mpolweni said they had been filming in a private residence when ordered to move. “Now they’re telling us we can’t even film from the road.”
Reporter Marida Fitzpatrick and photographer Felix Dlangamandla from Beeld newspaper said they were to take up accommodation in the village from today but had been told to move their things.
“We booked the accommodation a year in advance,” said Dlangamandla, who declined to say how much they spent except that it ran into “thousands”. “We were kicked out on and are staying at a guesthouse in Mthatha .”
Fitzpatrick said she was left extremely disappointed. “We missed the memorial service to be here and now we won’t even be able to cover the funeral properly. I really feel like we have missed out.”
Other media houses told to move from the village included the Sunday Times and American TV and radio network CBS.
Acting government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said journalists had been told that they would eventually be moved. “They are fully aware that they are barred from the security zone – it is nothing other than security. There is a place allocated for them,” said Williams.
Yesterday security around Mandela’s home was increased as more than a dozen police officers on horseback patrolled the property. They join a large contingent of soldiers, traffic officers and police already there ahead of the funeral on Sunday.
Police bar media from Qunu
This follows an order by police on Wednesday that journalists occupying houses in the village had to move. A reporter said police had conducted door-to-door searches to ensure everyone had heeded the call.
Yesterday journalists set up on the opposite side of the road from a police cordon barring people from entering the village, about a kilometre from Mandela’s house.
When a Dispatch team arrived members from various media houses were involved in a heated exchange with police.
ENCA TV news cameraman Nceba Ntlanganiso and reporter Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni said they were filming in the village when police ordered them to move.
“I’m very disappointed in GCIS ,” said Ntlanganiso. “We were told to go to the Qunu Museum which is far away.”
An irate Mkani-Mpolweni said they had been filming in a private residence when ordered to move. “Now they’re telling us we can’t even film from the road.”
Reporter Marida Fitzpatrick and photographer Felix Dlangamandla from Beeld newspaper said they were to take up accommodation in the village from today but had been told to move their things.
“We booked the accommodation a year in advance,” said Dlangamandla, who declined to say how much they spent except that it ran into “thousands”. “We were kicked out on and are staying at a guesthouse in Mthatha .”
Fitzpatrick said she was left extremely disappointed. “We missed the memorial service to be here and now we won’t even be able to cover the funeral properly. I really feel like we have missed out.”
Other media houses told to move from the village included the Sunday Times and American TV and radio network CBS.
Acting government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said journalists had been told that they would eventually be moved. “They are fully aware that they are barred from the security zone – it is nothing other than security. There is a place allocated for them,” said Williams.
Yesterday security around Mandela’s home was increased as more than a dozen police officers on horseback patrolled the property. They join a large contingent of soldiers, traffic officers and police already there ahead of the funeral on Sunday.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos