One moment Free State journalist Paul Nthoba was snapping a picture of police officers on patrol near the Caledon River, separating South Africa and Lesotho, and the next he was allegedly being beaten for taking the picture.
Nthoba, who is the editor of the Mohokare News, named after the Sesotho word for the Caledon River, told News24 after this happened, he went to the police station in Ficksburg to lay a charge of assault against the officers. He said at the station he was threatened with a Disaster Management Act infraction.
However, he said one of the police officers responded with a deeply offensive swear word, and the tone changed as he told him he felt insulted. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Sontaga Seisa confirmed that a journalist had laid a complaint of assault, but added that police had laid a counter-complaint, alleging he did not have a permit to be out. These will be investigated.Ultimately, a case of allegedly obstructing the police in carrying out their duties was opened against him.
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