South Africa: News24 reporter Jenni Evans attacked on ground. Protests in and around Cape Town should not lead to violence towards journalists

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July 23, 2020, Khayelitsha, South Africa -- As protests in Cape Town and surrounding areas demanding larger lands for the indigenous Africans grow, land invasions and demonstrations took a violent turn on Monday injuring News24 reporter Jenni Evans and a disabled man in a wheelchair. A brand new Covid-19 facility was also torched.

On Monday Jenni Evans was covering the protests in Khayelitsha, where she said “she has always found kindness and assistance” was injured and robbed by a group of men.

Following the incident Ward councillor Khaya Yozi said various spheres of government should meet and resolve land issues.

“As community leaders we have tried to calm the situation down because people were starting to lose control of the protest. We have requested a meeting with Dan Plato and Booi,” said Yozi.

The violent protest undermines the legitimacy of the agenda. People have every right to demand from the government because their demands are in the Freedom Charter.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) says it is dismayed by the attack on a News24 journalist who was covering land invasions protests around the Khayelitsha.

"Sanef believes that keeping journalists safe has an overall benefit to society and the free flow of information. Journalists and other media workers must be protected from threats and violence - and those who perpetrate crimes against them must be brought to justice," the editors' forum said in a statement on Tuesday. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the attacks and calls upon the society to respect freedom of press which is beneficial to the whole community.