South Africa: Two Journalists Assaulted, Robbed and Threatened by Municipal Workers During Protest Coverage

Last updated: 8 July 2026

Photo by Mohamed Nanabhay.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on South African authorities on March 20, 2026 to act swiftly to pursue a criminal case after two journalists covering a protest in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province were assaulted, robbed, threatened with intimidation, and had their equipment maliciously damaged by municipal workers. No arrests had been made at the time CPJ issued its alert, despite a formal criminal complaint having been filed.

The Attack

The two journalists, reporters for The Witness newspaper, were covering a protest in eastern KwaZulu-Natal when a group of municipal workers attacked them. According to The Witness's news editor, the journalists were assaulted physically, robbed of personal items and equipment, subjected to verbal intimidation, and had their camera equipment and other property maliciously damaged. The incident was reported to police, but authorities had not arrested any suspects at the time of CPJ's alert.

The attack reflects a pattern of violence against journalists covering protests and labour disputes in South Africa, where press coverage of politically sensitive demonstrations has increasingly been met with hostility from participants aligned with local government or municipal structures.

South Africa's Press Freedom Environment

South Africa has one of Africa's most robust constitutional protections for press freedom, with Section 16 of the constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression and freedom of the press. However, practical press freedom faces significant challenges: journalists covering protests, crime, corruption, and politically sensitive labour disputes have faced threats, physical attacks, and attempts to prevent reporting. Impunity for attacks on journalists undermines the legal framework.

CPJ has documented multiple attacks on South African journalists in the past three years, with the KwaZulu-Natal province — a politically contested region — featuring prominently. Local government employees and municipal workers have been involved in several incidents, raising concerns about accountability structures for public sector violence against the press.

South African authorities must act swiftly and comprehensively to investigate this attack, hold the perpetrators to account, and send a clear message that attacks on journalists covering public events will not be tolerated.

Committee to Protect Journalists, March 20, 2026

CPJ's Demands

CPJ is calling on South African police and prosecutorial authorities to immediately investigate the assault, robbery, and property damage suffered by the two Witness journalists, identify and prosecute those responsible, and ensure that any municipal workers involved face appropriate disciplinary and criminal consequences. The organisation is also calling on South African authorities to strengthen protection mechanisms for journalists covering protests and to ensure that public sector employees who attack journalists are held accountable without political interference.

Source: Committee to Protect Journalists — South African journalist threatened, assaulted, robbed by municipal workers