Blue light convoy-guards violate human rights

By Ofentse Mokae
18 March 2010

Following the incident at the Chris Hani Baragwanath between members of the Police Presidential Protection Unit and media members, the Presidency has expressed concern over an incident.

The President who was visiting the hospital on Tuesday when the incident occurred has also asked for a full report into the incident.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says they have requested a report from the police about the matter.

He stresses that the media needs to be able to freely and effectively cover the President’s activities.

“We want to continue keeping a healthy and professional relationship with the media. This is evident in the manner in which President Zuma has always made himself available and accessible to members of the media,” said Magwenya.

Reports say Zuma’s bodyguards manhandled an Eyewitness News photographer and forced him to delete his pictures he took of the president’s motorcade.

It is expected that National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele will hold an urgent meeting with editors over the incident.

Opposition parties came out strongly against the inicident with Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille demanding answers from Zuma in a written letter to the president.

Congress of the People’s head of communications Phillip Dexter said the president’s VIP Protection Unit was totally out of control and was defying the country’s laws and human rights provisions in the constitution.

Dexter said it seemed the unit was now being used to throw a blanket ban on reportage of the president’s activities.

In another development a photographer from a national publication and an intern were detained by police outside Zuma’s house in Forest Town yesterday, for taking photos of the president’s house.

The incidents follow barely a month after a UCT associate Chumani Maxwele, was arrested for allegedly pointing his middle finger at President Jacob Zuma as he drove past in a blue-light convoy.

Human rights day will be celebrated on Sunday commemorating 50 years since the Sharpville massacre, with the theme “Working together we can do more to protect human rights”.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY