Mayor promises action against attackers of Witness reporters

The journalists were covering a strike by municipal employees opposing the installation of surveillance cameras in municipal vehicles when tensions flared. As the protest intensified, demonstrators grabbed the journalists’ equipment and hurled a rock at them while they were taking photographs and video footage. Addressing the incident during a media briefing at city hall on Monday, Thebolla condemned the attack.

“We have heard about a journalist who was manhandled during the protest in Havelock Road,” he said. “Whoever did that to the journalist, we give our word that appropriate action will be taken once we get anything that proves involvement in such an act. We believe that the affected media house or houses will do the right thing and open (criminal) cases,” said Thebolla. The latest incident follows a similar episode late last year, when another Witness reporter was grabbed by the neck and pushed to the ground while making a video call during a workers’ picket outside city hall.