SABC Crew Robbed ‘In Broad Daylight’ As Alexandrians Watch

An SABC news team was robbed of their camera in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The thieves did not manage to hijack the vehicle, but they made off with the camera being used by Natasha Phiri, a reporter, and Sbu Mcedane, a cameraman.

An SABC television news crew has been robbed in Alexandra north of Johannesburg. Reporter Natasha Phiri and cameraman Sbu Mcedane were accosted by unidentified men who made of with their camera after trying to hijack their vehicle. #sabcnews

— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) April 16, 2019

In a news bulletin, Peter Ndoro said, “Men came to their car.”

“Our reporter Natasha Phiri screamed for help but didn’t get any assistance. In fact, onlookers, just literally watched this play out on the 11^th avenue, which is one of the busiest streets in Alexandra township. “In broad daylight. Such is the brazen attitude of the thieves that took this camera.”

The news anchor continued to warn people against buying the camera in second-hand shops and in the parallel market.

“So, if you see a camera like this, somebody trying to offer you a camera like this, be warned this belongs to the SABC,” he said as an image of a camera similar to the one stolen was being shown.

On air, Phiri said, “Honestly we are quite shaken.”

Her account of the incident was that they were taking some images on 11^th Avenue for a story addressing poor service delivery, a shutdown, and Mayor Herman Mashaba unsuccessfully trying to address the public.

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As they were taking the pictures, they were approached by armed men. These thieves demanded the camera from Mcedane, and then directed their attention to Phiri.

“Give me the car keys and all your belongings,” she said they said.

She was glad that the thieves did not physically assault them but was shocked that none of the people around them intervened.

SABC said that it has noted the robbery of its new steam with “extreme concern”.

“The corporation is relieved that none of its crew members were harmed,” said SABC’s spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu.

“The SABC condemns the attack on its journalists, and has further noted recent events where its crews have been attacked while covering stories.

“As our journalists continue to cover political campaigns across the country ahead of the May election, the SABC urges the public to allow them to do their work without any interruption, intimidation, and harm.”

Other notable events of SABC crew getting robbed include the 2015 incident where Vuyo Mvoko and his crew were robbed outside Milpark Hospital. The two suspects in that incident were jailed for 15 years.

Also, in November 2018, SABC had its equipment stolen at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

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