Cops attack Pretoria News photographer
February 4 2011 at 09:22pm
By Graeme Hosken
By Graeme Hosken
PRETORIA NEWS
Two
policemen attack photographer Masi Losi after he took pictures of them
arresting a suspected thief. Photo: Phill Magakoe
Two
heavy-handed policemen on Friday attacked a Pretoria News chief photographer
taking pictures of them arresting a suspected thief who they had moments before
saved from an enraged mob as it administered instant justice on the handcuffed
suspect.
Staff
photographer Masi Losi was assaulted and thrown to the ground where he was
sworn at, kicked and throttled as he resisted the angry officers who were
trying to take his camera away.
The police, who
rushed to the newspaper’s Vermeulen Street offices in droves from throughout
the city’s Central Business District, said that they wanted to arrest Losi
because they did not know who he was and thought that he might have been a
suspect, who was “trying to attack police”.
Police became
involved in a heated exchange with Pretoria News staff charged reporters,
photographers and sub-editors, who rescued Losi and rushed him to the safety of
the newspaper’s building.
While some
police tried to overpower security guards holding closed a vehicle entrance gate
in an attempt to stop them from entering the building, others forced their way
through the newspaper’s front security gate and, with hands of their guns,
surrounded Losi and his colleagues.
Manhandling
several staff members who were trying to protect Losi, police were eventually
forced out of the vehicle alleyway and the building.
Officers,
demanding to be let into the building to arrest Losi, who they accused of
defeating the ends of justice, obstructing justice and being a suspect,
threatened to arrest Executive Editor, Jos Charle, when he refused to allow
them into the building.
Asked why they
were attacking and assaulting journalists instead of fighting crime, police
officers yelled that they were upset with Losi because he had not introduced
himself and just started taking pictures, when he should have asked for
permission first.
When asked
where the crime scene was and why Losi was not allowed to take pictures, police
said they did not need to explain anything to the newspaper.
“We don’t owe
you guys any answers,” said a policeman.
Gauteng police
commissioner Mzwandile Petros has apologised to the Pretoria News and to Losi,
saying the police's action had been high handed and totally unnecessary.
Petros said he
had instructed Colonel Frans Manyaka of the Pretoria Central police station
cluster, to look into the matter.
Losi has
pressed charges against the police officers who attacked him. - Pretoria News
