Mzilikazi wa Africa, a journalist of a weekly publication Sunday Times was arrested on 4 August 2010, in what the newspaper editor Ray Hartley described as a move that was clearly designed to intimidate the media.wa Africa was picked up from the Sunday Times offices with six cars blocking the street outside. He was arrested by a large number of policemen in an operation which was clearly designed to intimidate, and I can only conclude that this was the true motive for what took place today [4 August 2010], said Hartley.
Mzilikazi was the author of the story which was published on 1 August 2010 about the rental of new police headquarters at the cost of R500 million without following the usual tender proceedings. However, police denied any link between wa Africas arrest and his story.
wa Africa is due to appear in court on charges of fraud and defeating the ends of justice. Police did not want to comment on the charges until he appears in court.
The TimesLive website reported that wa Africa was arrested for possession of what police said was a fraudulent letter of resignation from Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza to president Jacob Zuma.
The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) said while it did not wish to comment on the matter until it had obtained clarification, it strongly condemned the attempt by the heavy police contingent to stop press photographers from recording the event. It also flies in the face of numerous assurances by the office of the national commissioner of police, General Bheki Cele, that it would ensure that police desist from such obstructionist conduct and co-operate with the media, SANEF said.
Congress of the People (Cope) party president Mbhazima Shilowa added that, This is a deliberate attempt to silence the voice of independent media, which reports without fear, favour or prejudice.
MISA-South Africas Position
MISA-South Africa is still investigating the arrest of Mzilikazi wa Africa in order to establish the facts behind the arrest. However, MISA-South Africa condemn the manner at which police conducted themselves during his arrest and denying the media coverage. It is truly in violation of the freedom of the media and the publics right to know, enshrined in the constitution.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News