South African politician caught on video assaulting journalist

Video footage of a South African politician assaulting a journalist outside parliament today is being shared online.

The two men have been identified as the Deputy Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters party Floyd Shivambu and Adrian de Kock – a reporter for Afrikaans language website Netwerk24.

Other journalists at the scene say the scuffle broke out when Mr de Kock tried to take a photograph of Mr Shivambu. Mr de Kock told a reporter from the Mail & Guardian that he had also asked the politician a question about the opposition. He says the politician then “grabbed” him “by the throat”, saying “you don’t have my permission” to take photographs.

Mr Shivambu has not yet commented.

But it has been condemned by a group which represents journalists which has issued a statement on Twitter saying “any journalist has the full right photograph and ask questions of any public representative”.

The Parliamentary Press Gallery Association adds that it will seek an apology from Mr Shivambu and pursue disciplinary action.

Source: bbc.com