Bloomberg journalist removed from South African political meeting

Bloomberg News reporter Sam Mkokeli was removed from the African National Congress political party meeting in South Africa after complaining about access, reports Neo Goba of The Times.

Goba reports, “On Wednesday‚ the accreditation of the chairperson of South African National Editors Forum’s sub-committee on media freedom and Bloomberg’s correspondent‚ Sam Mkokeli‚ was revoked. This was after he argued briefly with a security official on why journalists were made to wait for over an hour in the sun for a walk-about by newly elected ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa when in fact he was not ready to address the media.

“Following this incident‚ a number of journalists came forward and revealed how they have been abused by security to a point of being threatened and chased out of the venue and also having their accreditation revoked.

“Taking to the party’s conference WhatsApp group‚ a few journalists shared their experience.”

Read more here. Bloomberg issued a statement that stated, “This sort of behavior does not belong in a country whose constitution guarantees freedom of the press.” It also states that Mkokeli’s accreditation was returned.