Sanef wants alleged assault probed
2011-03-01 19:45
Johannesburg - The SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) on Tuesday called for a full investigation into convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik's alleged assault of a journalist on a Durban golf course.
"Sanef supports the laying of criminal charges by Khoza against Shaik and urges that an investigation be carried out speedily," it said.
Shaik allegedly throttled journalist Amanda Khoza and slapped her across the face on Saturday.
Following a tip-off, the Sunday Tribune had assigned her and freelance photographer Charmel Bowman to go to the Papwa Sewgowlum course in Durban, where Shaik was possibly contravening his parole conditions.
Khoza reportedly claimed Shaik confronted her when she hid behind a tree to avoid being in the way of play on the course. He reportedly asked her to move, then asked who had sent her and how he would know whether she was a terrorist.
During the alleged scuffle, other golfers allegedly hit the photographer and grabbed his camera.
Shaik was quoted in the Sunday Independent as denying the assault. He claimed Khoza was rude and did not produce her business card.
Shaik avoided serving 15 years behind bars for fraud when he was released on parole about two years ago on grounds he was terminally ill.
Sanef also condemned police attacks on journalists.
Sowetan scribe Penwell Dlamini and photographer Antonio Muchave were arrested by Hillbrow police on December 29. They were detained while covering a story on the eviction of nine families from Regal Court flats in the Johannesburg city centre.
- SAPA
