enca eff students

Photo: eNCA / Twitter

Watch: eNCA journalist pushed, harrassed by ‘EFF-linked students’

Ugly confrontations between students ‘linked to the EFF’ and a female eNCA journalist played out live on-air earlier today, as university protests escalated again.

enca eff students

Photo: eNCA / Twitter

The ongoing university protests once again got extremely heated in Braamfontein. However, regardless of their frustrations, nobody wants to see members of the media harassed and man-handled – sadly, that’s exactly what happened when ‘EFF-linked students’ clashed with eNCA journalist Sli Masikane.

‘EFF-supporting students’ clash with eNCA journalist

The roving reporter was thrust into the heart of the demonstrations earlier on Monday – a brave move, considering the bad blood flowing between the EFF and eNCA. Last week, Julius Malema instructed all of his followers to refuse interviews with the network. That stance is a matter of personal choice, but getting physical with journalists crosses the line.

Masikane approaches a group of students, providing an eyewitness account of what was happening on the ground. She and her camera team were then spotted by members of the crowd. A tense verbal exchange then took place on air, before the journo and her camera crew were pushed away by the angered students:

Watch: Journalist ‘pushed back’ by student protesters

‘EFF student braches’ allegedly driving university protests

Thankfully, things didn’t escalate any further – but the act of ‘pushing and shoving’ sets a dangerous precedent going forward. It’s unlikely that leadership figures within the EFF will condemn these actions, and plenty of observers have noted that the student protests have been widely ‘co-opted’ by the Red Berets and their various branches.

Shaken, but not stirred, Masikane continued to broadcast live on eNCA, and filed her report diligently. The broadcaster has since received waves of support from her colleagues at the station, as well as prominent political figures.