ANCYL member to appear in court

THE ANC Youth League member accused of attacking a journalist during the ANC's Limpopo elective conference at the weekend is expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court today.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe confirmed yesterday that they had charged the suspect with common assault and malicious damage to property.

Chester Makana, a freelance journalist, was hit with a brick while investigating allegations of the printing of duplicate voting tags by ANCYL members. Makana had gone to a printing company in Polokwane on Saturday after receiving a tip-off that league members were involved in an illegal activity relating to the conference at the University of Limpopo's Turfloop campus in Mankweng.

While Makana was taking photographs the league member allegedly grabbed his camera and destroyed its memory card. He then allegedly picked up a brick and hit Makana over his head. Makana opened a case with the police.

Ngoepe said yesterday that the suspect had been warned to appear in court today to face the charges.

"We hope our investigations will determine how many people were involved in the attack on the journalist, and also the alleged illegal activity," Ngoepe said.

The ANC in Limpopo said yesterday it was investigating the allegations with a view to taking internal disciplinary measures.

It commended Makana for opening a case with the police, saying it hoped the law would take its course.