MEC Plato says unlawful arrest of journalists must stop

Lusanda Bill
06 February 2014

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety Dan Plato has called for the unlawful police detainment of journalists to stop immediately. 

This is after it was reported that a journalist was arrested in Phillipi while taking pictures of a policeman taking photos of an injured man after vigilante attack instead of assisting him.

MEC Plato said journalists must be able to do their jobs freely without the fear of being arrested. I have written to the IPID to investigate the matter and if they feel there was any wrongdoing in the part of the SAPS to take the necessary action against those members.   

Meanwhile MEC Plato said taking the law into your own hands is unacceptable and wrong. 

Plato said taking another person’s life and the disregard for the rule of law has no place in a constitutional democracy.