South African journalist threatened, assaulted, robbed by municipal workers

Lusaka, March 20, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on South African authorities to act swiftly on a criminal case of assault, robbery, intimidation, and malicious damage to the property of two journalists covering a protest in eastern KwaZulu-Natal province for The Witness newspaper.

The police have not made any arrests, The Witness’ news editor Kailene Pillay told CPJ, despite the newspaper filing the case on February 25 at Pietermaritzburg Central Police Station, along with a video clip of the protesting workers.