News Central TV has announced the release of its journalists, Bongani Siziba and Sbonelo Mkhasibe, who were detained while working in Maputo, Mozambique on Thursday.
The media network expressed gratitude for the support received during efforts to secure their release and promised further updates on the situation.
The arrest of South African correspondent Siziba and cameraman Mkhasibe on November 14, 2024 sparked concern over press freedom in Africa.
The duo was apprehended while covering a routine news story in the Mozambican capital. The exact circumstances of their detention remain unclear, and no prior communication with the journalists was possible during their time in custody.
Kayode Akintemi, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of News Central TV, earlier condemned the detention, describing it as a serious concern.
“The detention of our colleagues while performing their professional duties is deeply concerning,” Akintemi said in a statement.
“We are working through all available diplomatic and official channels to secure their immediate release,” he added.
The incident has drawn attention to the challenges journalists face across the continent.
Advocacy groups have reported a growing trend of media restrictions and journalist arrests in many African nations, raising questions about press freedom and the safety of media workers.
Mozambican authorities have not yet issued a statement explaining the basis for the journalists’ arrest.
News Central TV, however, reiterated its commitment to press freedom and transparency.
“We strongly advocate for freedom of the press and urge the authorities to uphold the rights of journalists to carry out their duties without interference,” the network stated.
While Siziba and Mkhasibe are now free, the incident calls attention to the pressing need to protect journalists and ensure their right to report without fear.
Media organisations and rights groups have called for greater safeguards to uphold press freedom as a cornerstone of democracy and informed public discourse.
