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Enioluwa Adeniyi
Guest
News Central Television South African news crew, comprising correspondent Bongani Siziba and camera operator Sbonelo Mkhasibe, has been released from detention in Mozambique after being arrested while covering unrest in the country.
The journalists alleged that they were tortured by security forces during their detention, adding a troubling dimension to their ordeal.
Earlier on Friday, News Central TV confirmed their detention, explaining that the team had travelled to Maputo to report on developments in the southern African nation.
The incident sparked widespread concern among media rights advocates and calls for their immediate release.
Speaking to IOL soon after her release, Siziba recounted the harrowing experience.
“We were taken by the police when we were going to get accreditation in the morning (on Thursday). The camera guy just wanted to shoot some pictures of people who were in the street. Before we knew it, the police just stormed at us and arrested us.
“They took us to the police station. From the police station we were blindfolded, taken to an unknown place that is dark. At that place were surrounded by people in plain clothes carrying guns – AK47 assault rifles. While blindfolded like that, were were ordered to face the wall,” Siziba spoke to IOL from Mozambique.
Siziba said she feared for her life during the ordeal.
She said, “I thought they were going to shoot us in the back as we see in movies. We remained blindfolded the whole time. It was the three of us, myself, Sbonelo with one Mozambican journalist. We asked why they were arresting us and they said international journalists have been coming to tell lies about the country.
“We were questioned by several security forces, one after the other. This was happening while were blindfolded. This was torture. In the other rooms, we could hear people crying while being tortured.”
On Friday evening, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed that the duo has been released from detention.
“We can confirm that two South African journalists were detained in Mozambique. Following the verification of their credentials and diplomatic engagements from our High Commission in Mozambique, the Mozambican authorities have subsequently released the journalists,” said Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola.
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