VEREENIGING – In a country where press freedom plays a crucial role, Vaal politicians need a lesson or two in dealing with the media.

A local reporter has been a victim of an assault at the hands of security personnel who were allegedly instructed by the mayoral committee (MAYCO) to attack him.

This comes after a shockingly violent attack that rocked the Sedibeng District Municipality as a journalist was allegedly assaulted and thrown out of the Civic Centre while doing his job.

Vaalweekblad’s reporter Christiaan Cloete was allegedly manhandled by the municipality’s head of security and a gang of guards as he attempted to cover an explosive council meeting determining the mayor’s fate on Wednesday, January 29.

The journalist was reporting on a high-tension motion of no confidence against Sedibeng’s executive mayor, Lerato Maloka when things took a disturbing turn.

According to Cloete, the meeting was about to heat up when Speaker Moipone Modikeng demanded he stop filming.

“The Speaker cited the POPI Act as an excuse to block the media from covering the proceedings of the day. I stood firm on my journalistic duty and refused to be silenced; hence I continued to film,” he said.

Still shaken by the incident, Cloete recounted the event as it happened.

“I had my Canon camera in one hand, my Nikon and phone in the other – I couldn’t even defend myself when I was thrown on the floor outside the civic centre,” he said.

Irma Green, group editor of Caxton Local Media minced no words lashing the act.

“We will not tolerate our journalists to be manhandled when doing their duty. Councillors are in service to the public and were elected to represent their interests. It is the media’s role to inform, and to do this a free flow of information is necessary. What happened today is deplorable,” she said.

Sedibeng District police spokesperson Sergeant Thembeka Maxambela confirmed a case of assault and malicious damage had been opened.

“An investigation is underway and no arrests have been made,” she said.

At the time of going to print, the police and the municipal spokesperson had not responded to the matter.

This is a developing story.