IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - SOUTH AFRICA

18 September 2002

Journalist threatened

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

(MISA/IFEX) - On 19 September 2002, Sina Sebetha, an Edenvale traffic
officer in Gauteng province, threatened "Sunday Times" journalist Sabelo
Ndlangisa. She told the journalist she would make him "vanish if he did not
leave her alone."

Sebetha called the offices of the "Sunday Times" and left a recorded
message: "You! You will vanish. They'll look all over for and won't find
you. If you want to do the right thing, stay out of other people's business.
We will finish you off."

The threat followed a report in the Metro section of the "Sunday Times"'s 15
September edition, entitled: "Traffic cop who asked for a bribe is still in
job". Sebetha admitted to making the threatening call but said she did it
out of anger.

The newspaper also reported that Ekurhuleni Mayor Duma Nkonsi quickly
distanced the council from Sebetha's threats, stating they were not
acceptable and unfortunate.

MISA's South African chapter regards this as a direct violation of a
journalist's right to report freely. Such threats should not be encouraged
within a democratic country such as South Africa, which guarantees media
freedom.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232975,
fax: +264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected],
Internet: http://www.misa.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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