The DA on Friday condemned the arrest of two Sowetan journalists and called for an investigation into possible corruption at the Hillbrow police station. "This is an appalling case of intimidation by police who should be upholding the law not subverting it," said Democratic Alliance MPL Jack Bloom. "There must be a thorough investigation of this incident as well as possible corruption at the Hillbrow police station," he said in a statement.
The journalists were arrested by Hillbrow police on Wednesday and detained for about an hour. Their equipment and cellphones were confiscated and only returned to them the next day after lawyers intervened.
The Sowetan newspaper reported on Friday that the journalists were covering a story involving the illegal eviction of nine families. It claimed that in spite of a ruling by a Johannesburg High Court judge, the Hillbrow police refused to help the families get back into their Regal Court flats in the city.
The court ordered that the building owner allow the families back into their flats. "Many Hillbrow residents suspect that effective action against building hijackings is hindered because local police are themselves implicated," said Bloom.
Neither the Hillbrow police nor provincial police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza were available for comment.
Source: Mail & Guardian
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