He is known for breaking news and helping his fellow journalists.
But his passion and drive for his work led him to spend Christmas in jail.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) recently released a statement expressing how disappointed they were for freelance journalist, Thomo Nkgadima to be arrested while doing his job.
They said they learned that the Limpopo-based journalist is in prison after being arrested for taking pictures of a mayor’s house.
In the statement they said that Sunday World informed them on Sunday, 24 December about Nkgadima’s arrest.
“He was arrested on charges of trespassing and intimidation after he took pictures of the house of Eddie Maila, the mayor of Fetakgomo Tubatse municipality in Burgersfort, Limpopo.
"Nkgadima took pictures of the house from the outside, in Praktiseer, where there are alleged illegal electrical connections, and the mayor’s house is in the said area,” the statement read.
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They said after spending Christmas in jail, Nkgadima appeared in court on Wednesday, 27 December, where he was denied bail, despite facing Schedule 1 charges.
“Nkgadima and Sunday World are in consultation with legal representatives, who will hopefully help with his release,” they said.
SANEF said they are disappointed that such charges were brought forward against a journalist who was doing his job, and never trespassed on Maila’s property, nor intimidated anyone.
“Editors at Sunday World have informed SANEF that Maila has previously threatened Nkgadima because the latter sought to do his work as a journalist. This is a worrying development that SANEF has always condemned. Our democracy requires that journalists be allowed to do their work without any inhibitions,” the statement read.
SANEF said they hope the court will make a sensible decision in offering Nkgadima a fair hearing and, when the time arrives, fully hear his side of the story.
Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that a case of Trespassing was opened.
