EDITORIAL
Standard Bank employees’ brutality against Daily Maverick journalist is bad omen for SA’s freedom of expression
Standard Bank security assaulted Daily Maverick reporter Lerato Mutsila while she was on duty covering the Extinction Rebellion protest. They unlawfully deleted photos and videos from her phone and forcibly removed her from their Johannesburg headquarters. A charge of assault and unlawful deprivation of property has been lodged with the SAPS.
Standard Bank, the sole sponsor of South Africa’s premier journalism awards, on Tuesday morning (19 September 2023) sent their security guards to assault, manhandle, intimidate and confiscate the phone of Daily Maverick journalist Lerato Mutsila. Mutsila was on duty to report on a protest by Extinction Rebellion at the bank’s Rosebank headquarters.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Climate activists, journalist forcibly ejected from Standard Bank HQ anti-fossil fuel protest
Some peaceful protesters were also reportedly injured as the security guards removed them from the lobby of the bank building in the morning.
Daily Maverick chief photographer Felix Dlangamandla and Mutsila arrived at the headquarters between 7.30am and 8am on Tuesday, 19 September.
Mutsila used her phone to document the protest as it unfolded but was on more than one occasion manhandled by a woman who only gave her first name and said she was in charge of bank security. She was later identified as Karin Dirr, Internal Protection Services Manager and Travel Risk Governance at Standard Bank Group. She claimed Mutsila was not allowed to film and had to join the protesters.
Daily Maverick journalist Lerato Mutsila is thrown out of the Standard Bank headquarters in Rosebank by a woman who only gave her first name and said she was in charge of bank security. She was later identified as Karin Dirr, Internal Protection Services Manager and Travel Risk Governance at Standard Bank Group. (Photo: Screengrab)
At least four male security guards were unleashed on journalist Lerato Mutsila. (Photo: Kiara Affat)
Several attempts by Mutsila to point out that she was a member of the media were ignored. Ms Dirr intimidated Mutsila, pulled her by her backpack, attempted to grab her phone, physically pushed her towards the building exit and unleashed at least four male security guards on the journalist as she grabbed hold of Mutsila’s phone, successfully removing it. At this stage the guards violently grabbed hold of Mutsila, lifted her off the ground and threw her out of the building. We have since established that the guards are employed by TSU Protection Services and contracted by Standard Bank.
Ms Dirr walked back into the building with Mutsila’s phone. When it was returned to her, all the photographic and video footage had been deleted, as well as the folder where all deleted items would have been stored. Some personal files were also deleted.
Mutsila at the time tried on several occasions to establish the woman’s credentials and name but this information was refused.
When Mutsila told her that what she did was unlawful and she would lay a complaint, Ms Dirr said she didn’t care and had been in trouble with them (the media) in the past.
Daily Maverick will be suspending any further participation in the Sikuvile Awards.
At no time did Standard Bank attempt to reach Mutsila or Daily Maverick following the incident. In fact when a Daily Maverick journalist contacted Standard Bank on Tuesday night, spokesperson Ross Linstrom stated: “We note your complaint and request that you share further details, so we can look into these allegations. Standard Bank respects and is a strong supporter of media freedom. In the event that journalists approach us through the proper channels, we are open to engaging with them.”
Mutsila did appeal to the security personnel that she would like to speak to a media person at Standard Bank, but they told her to leave. There was no media liaison who identified themselves at the scene of the protest.
Daily Maverick journalist Lerato Mutsila was not allowed to re-enter the Standard Bank headquarters after her phone had been confiscated. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)
There are several witnesses who had seen what happened; the photographs as well as video evidence are displayed in this story.
It is wholly unconscionable that Standard Bank, a main sponsor of the Sikuvile Journalism Awards and an apparent supporter of a free press, condones behaviour that censors and violently prevents a journalist from performing her duties.
Daily Maverick, a leading South African daily publication with more than 10 million visitors per month, will be suspending any further participation in the Sikuvile Awards.
Daily Maverick is also an active member of the South African National Editors’ Forum, which co-hosts the awards with the bank. Sanef has been informed about this incident.
Also read: Kumi Naidoo forcibly removed from Standard Bank HQ after protest over crude oil pipeline project
Mutsila has also laid charges of assault, unlawful deprivation of property and intimidation against Standard Bank and its security personnel, at the Rosebank Police Station, even though the police officer who took down her statement attempted to strongly dissuade Mutsila from laying a charge of assault, saying that according to him she had not been injured.
We cannot allow this incident to simply pass. The safety of our journalists and media freedom are the democratic norms we guard vigorously. They are key to a vibrant and functioning society. When this is compromised, our very democracy is at risk.
When this is compromised by one of Africa’s largest banks, a bank that is also under pressure to stop financing projects that will significantly increase emissions of greenhouse gases, the stakes are even higher.
We call on the business community to denounce these bully-boy tactics that are so brazenly deployed to intimidate and silence truth. We hope organisations that are currently working so hard to save South Africa’s economy in a democratic society, such as Business Unity South Africa, to raise their voices – this is the road to nowhere that none of us should have to take. DM
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Was she asked to leave but refused? If so, it’s private property, they are entitled to remove anyone.
HMMM?? I wondered about that? But, even if you are right, I don’t believe that they are entitled to remove anything from her ‘phone?
Any IT specialist worth their salt can recover deleted images from a phone.
Irrelevant.
Actually, it’s not irrelvant. It’s a hint to DM to get the images to get the images restored by its IT department.
ALLEY, taking photos/video inside a bank is not allowed.
These are most probably headquarters, offices of a banking institution. I doubt a journalist would do such a thing knowing the boundaries.
But the journalist trespassed and by the pictures was sticking her finger in peoples faces so I can assume she believes the law does not apply to her
KAYLEN, you asked the exact correct question here!!!
If you ask a person to leave your property,
and he makes a 180 degree turn,
and walks towards the exit,
who on earth will use force?,
or assault him?
It is a highly regulated private entity that’s bound by external policies and regulations to allow transparency to a certain degree. They offer services and products at a fee, to the people. Therefore they’re required to prove their integrity and transparency at any given time.
This is a……comment
Correct, but surely not entitled to assault anyone or to confiscate private property? Surely anyone should be treated with respect? Oh, but we are talking about a bank here aren’t we?! Silly me! Banks don’t care about people…………….
If you or anybody with a press card or a placard, sets foot on my property, I will remove you and I will delete everything from your phone. You have no right to take photos of what goes on and what is on my premises.
Journo’s are no longer the holy cows of decades ago. Too many journo’s with internet “certificates” these days.
Not private property, the lobby is public space.
I’m no legal expert, but I am sure media freedom doesn’t give you the right to trespass on private property. You can protest outside all you want, but the bank were well within their rights to remove her from their private property.
Perhaps, but where’s the respect for journalism? Also, “trespass” is open to interpretation in an office where visitors come and go all the time, and they were certainly not entitled to sieze her phone nor delete material from it.
She is a member of the press/media, NOT a protester. Please don’t conflate.
johan, she was ASKED to leave,
if she did not do that immediately,
she was a protester.
Journalist are not above the law.
How do you know that – I assume she was both
Agreed
Those criticising Standard Bank are doing so in response to emotive and one sided reporting. Any reporter asked to leave a private premises should do so immediately and if they refuse they are entitled to be removed by force, and since it’s against the regulations of all banks to take photographs internally the bank was within their rights to delete the images. For clarity, I have no relationship with Standard Bank and am a Daily Maverick subscriber and greatly value what they do, but I think in this case their reporter on the ground may have been in the wrong and the Daily Maverick report itself seems emotive, biased and therefore questionable.
Agreed, and very well said.
This is totally disgusting. I shall certainly never ever recommend any one to bank with Standard Bank. What a disappointment. 👎👎👎👎👎😠
Then vote with your feet and go elsewhere.
So, our third Standard Bank troll? You really aren’t doing your bosses any favours, either.
And I bet the bank will be removing you and their security company from their payroll quite soon.
I agree, it’s disgusting
Ms Dirr, the silent majority is behind you!!
Rubbish. Her actions were high-handed and uncalled for.
Agree with you. Denise
Absolutely!
Amandla!
The what? ‘Silent’ and ‘Majority’ used in one sentence in post-1994 South Africa? Who are these silent people?
Hahaha!
hening, it is very close to 60 000 000 silent-majority-people minus the people here who are commenting here AND not working from home.
Fascists of the world unite!
Alas your doomsday cults are losing traction and support across the globe
Say he who believes the earth is flat
Mjhaupt. I guess your support for a free press is paper thin. Why subscribe to DM? I guess you just like the reporting about inept, dishonest government. When dishonest corporations – such as the Standard Bank clearly proves itself to be (invests in destructive industries, pretending to be ‘green’ & pretends to care about Free Press, all as a matter of ‘white washing’) – are called out, you claim to be part of a mythical ‘silent majority’. I think you’ll find what you think is a majority – your mates! – are a tiny, confused minority.
johan, silent majority = 60 000 000 minus people commenting from their place of work (NOT home)
these commenters are commenting in the time they should be productive (they are getting paid for that), which make them dishonest thieves,
but hey, it is YOU guys who act holy all of a sudden!
No Ms Dirr – we are not. We support our Daily Maverick reporters and resent them being manhandled and phones removed when reporting on pertinent matters.
So DM reporters are allowed to do anything any place? I expect professional behaviour by DM reporters. I am an DM supporter. We can not become part of lawlessness. Denise Smit
DM, even your presence at this illegal occupation is in direct conflict to the picture you try to paint of yourself.
Rubbish – or are you worrying about your Standard Bank and Oil and Gas shares?
steve, do not have ANY shares in anything.
…er…why mjhaupt? You continue to prove your absence of understanding of a free, democratic society. DM & other media MUST be present at these events, just as they should at any matter of public interest (not just the ones you favour).
johan, present or taking part in?
and then you say on this page where i am entering my comment:
“keep things civil”
Were you keeping it civil all the time?,
or only before the whistle blow?
My word! What a collection of self-righteous and out-of-touch comments! Assault and theft are to be brushed aside?
Well said. These people have obviously been getting away with too much for too long, and Standard Bank are going to be asked why they they employed such a bunch of disgraceful thugs. But then, when you’re apparently heavily involved with the oil and gas terrorists – who new about climate change about 40 years ago and kept it quiet (Exxon) – what do we expect?
It’s quite revealing that you are an outright supporter of a doomsday cult that is led by disturbed privileged middle class people with nothing but time on their hands who often jet off to exotic locations for their holidays after causing mass disruption and who’s leader calls himself a prophet.
WTF are you talking about?
Extinction Rebellion?
Extinction rebellion.. Now go read more
How totally weird.
I challenge you to watch some of the interviews with Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil leaders on British TV then tell me I’m wrong
Steve Davidson, the thug in the photos published by DM, seems to be the angel Lerato. In virtually ALL the photos, she is pointing fingers, take a aggressive stance and seem to be ready to DEMAND her God given right to do whatever she wants to. Very sorry to say, DM definately sent the wrong person that was out of her depth. A real jouno never becomes the story.
Standard Bank is useless at the best of times, but that branch especially so. I had nothing but hassles with them. In my interactions with them their attitude was a far cry from what one would expect from a service provider and because they are so inefficient and incompetent I had to go back a number of times around the same issue. They’re unfriendly and belligerent and act like they’re doing you a favour, so it’s not surprising they set their watchdogs onto a reporter. I was very happy to close my accounts and move elsewhere.
Oh, is this the vaunted DM “balanced reporting”? Where is the Standard Bank rebuttal? Just the pics offer an alternative viewpoint?
Hear hear!
Yes, the report is not balanced – we need Standard Bank rebuttal. Denise Smit
Well, that certainly changed my attitude about Standard Bank from neutral to very negative. Congratulations DM for boycotting the Sikuvile Awards. I am totally with you, and I hope SANEF supports you. This will be a test for SANEF, rejecting tainted money.
Even if the journalist was unlawfully on the premises – having been instructed by the person in control of the premises to leave – there is no justification for assault and theft. I fear SAPS are unlikely to really take action and that the dockets will simply sit gathering dust.
Of course if Standard Bank has any real commitment to press freedom they will take disciplinary action against all staff involved and will re-evaluate the contracts it has with the different security companies. It will also write a fairly heavy cheque (I think banks still have a chequebook 😉 ) to DM.
I suspect PSIRA will require that a complaints be processed through the relevant provider before getting involved but in light of the clear footage and so on is quite likely to want to avoid appearing to not be capable of protecting the public from abusive private security guards. I am hoping to see a follow up article on their comment. They may want to consult somebody from PRISA first 🙂
paul, you are not allowed to take photos or videos inside a bank.
DM seem to think that rules inside banks does not apply to them. This was rather a case of tresspassing of the premises of the bank . Denise Smit
Branko, I want to read an entirely objective report on this unpleasant incident. What disturbs me (as much as the clearly physical confrontation with the unfortunate Ms Musila), is your subtle use of hyperbole: Dogs are “unleashed”, not security guards. Similarly “violently grabbed” and “threw her out” are subjective assertions. I don’t condone Standard Banks actions, but I’d like to read a, shall we say, impartial version of events.
Hear hear!
Exactly. The journalist or anyone for that matter is NOT allowed o film or take photos inside ANY bank in SA. Being a journalist doesn’t exempt you from trespassing, she was asked to leave but refuse so the bank exercised their right and ejected her
Agree, emotive language has no place in factual reporting and merely discredits the reporting.
Agreed, give us balanced objective journalism. Denise Smit
Agree – by the looks of the pictures supplied said journalists did not leave without an argument.
The question one should be asking oneself is ………”who is actual owner of Standard Bank?”, the majority shareholder that is… and they are based in what country? and your answer to that will provide you with some basis to understand the fascist tactics employed here, zero tolerance for free speech etc. They may be within their rights to impede access to a journalist when that journalist encroaches onto private property, but they do not have the right to violate the rights of any individual in the manner in which the DM journalist was assaulted and ejected from the building. Do not hold your breath for a response from Standard Bank, Beijing is a few hours ahead of us and they are all probably asleep right now.
Reading through all the comments to see if anyone was asking/saying what you have. This has to be looked at first because that’s the reason for this unfortunate incident. Somehow don’t think the same would have occurred at FNB or Capitec.
What absolutely DISGRACEFUL behaviour against a journalist just trying to do her work! I am sure most Maverick readers are fully in support of your views in this article @BrankoBrkic (in spite of some reactionary comments in the thread). We need to protect the freedom of the media in South Africa at all costs – without progressive and courageous media we would have very little idea of what is really going on in our benighted land. Viva Daily Maverick Viva!
Media “freedom” doesn’t trump other’s rights. She was asked to leave, she refused so she was removed. Simple
Corporate bullies. They treat their customers and vendors incredibly shoddily, so why not the media too. They get brutal when anybody gets up to challenge them. What do they have to hide from the public? Ironic that their spin doctors think that sponsoring an award for journalism will fool anyone. Keep up the good fight, DM. I know that one day when I am called to account, I will be able to look my grandchildren in the eye and say, “we fought tooth and nail against evil.”
It seems clear to me that many of those defending the disgraceful behaviour of this bank are employees or associates. I’d love to see when these commentators actually signed up to this community, because none of their names have come up before today. They are trying to defend the indefensible, but the truth always come out in the end.
I have nothing to do with Standard Bank and have never banked with them. Do not confuse what happened here. There was a protest outside the building – why would the journalist need to do her work in an unprofessional manner inside the building. Denise Smit
If you read the article the protesters entered the building, so in order to cover the protest inside the building the reporter had to follow them. You seem to be of the opinion that she should have waited outside for the official report from Standard Bank. That is not why I support independent media.
No, she should have left when she was asked to – simple
There’s something wrong with this story.
Journalists are professionals and act within certain confines of acceptable practices.
The article doesn’t provide much or any clarity on what these confines are here, and what the parameters are of reporting on this protest, in this environment and place/space.
Normally, permission must be requested and granted for journalists to report on proceedings, especially indoor ones. I mean that is universally required of bonafides journalists and not just in Russia or China.
Maybe DM reporter is an advocacy writer and blurred the line between actively engaging with the protesters but trying to use the press cover to have it both ways?
More balanced reporting required to understand the issues.
I’ll be interested to see what ‘spin’ Standard Bank puts on this appalling incident. Nothing they say or do will remove the images in my mind now of a molested journalist ( and other people protesting at the Bank). I suggest SANEF withdraw totally from the Sikuvile Journalism Awards and if I was up for one of them I would either withdraw now, or do so publicly when the award is awarded. Cry Freedom !!
The one sided reporting images?
sue, don’t be a drama queen:
“images in my mind now of a molested journalist”
Completely agree with you Sue – what were the banners across JHB, last week, saying about Standard Bank’s colonial history, which continues? An awful, stagnant, set in their ways bank, whose online system is appalling. If this protest was announced to the general public, I would have signed up.
I am amazed that there were even personnel there. Last time I tried to see a ‘business manager’ there, there was nobody in site. Not a receptionist. Not a soul as clients came in, stood around for a while and then left. Eventually found two employees joking away in one of the ‘meeting rooms’. They simply asked wether I could not see that they were in a ‘meeting’.
I would love someone to throw me out of a Standard bank branch. I have to go to one every time I need to do something more complicated than an inter-account transfers, and it is always an awful slow and long process.
Why don’t you use the online banking app? I haven’t been in a bank for over 15 years! Duh! You can comment on line but can’t bank online!
Again one eyed and one sided extremely poor journalism/reporting from DM journalists. The fact that we haven’t heard SB’s side of the story after 2 days says it all. I am sadly starting to question my monthly contribution to DM. DM is sinking to the level of News24.
GRENVILLE, just keep it civil!!!! 🙂
As much as i dislike DM’s Drama-Queen-type-of-reporting,
they don’t come close to the NEWS/NET-24-rock-bottom-level … … …,
and even DM do not deserve this insult.
No, The Sun. Denise Smit
No right to go onto private property, stay outside premises. As a client I would object to all this going on in the bank, press credentials or not.
correct!!!
Hear hear!
Agreed. Denise Smit
BTW, it is not legal to take photos or record video in a bank.
The lobby of a bank is not a public space any more than that of lootfreely house, or the mine workers union headquarters is. I don’t recall any climate protestors doing any occupying at either of those locations and I don’t have to wonder why. I don’t condone ‘assaults’ but if you coordinate your reporting activities with those of the extreme end of the climate movement there are predictable results if you aren’t in London or San Francisco. I suspect that very few of the people virtue signalling their support of this protest wouldn’t have hit their panic button if it unfolded in their driveway.
These doomsday cults never go for the hard targets, disrupting the common man in the street with traffic blockades, invading sports events (Wimbledon, snooker championships, golf tour events etc), damaging, defacing and destroying priceless works of art on display in museums and damaging and disrupting the man-on-the-street in department stores and banks is what they do.
The vast majority of these cults are well-off bored leftists, in fact the founder/leader of Extinction Rebellion compares himself to a Prophet, they have no arguments, they are typical radicals who will not listen to ANY opposing or alternative viewpoint and resort to hysterical screaming and senseless drivel, just watch ANY interview with these crackpots
Ag shame.
100% agree with you.
This unfortunate comedy of errors does Standard Bank no credit at all, as it was handled in a cack-handed and unprofessional manner, but I would like to hear their side of the story as well. Ms Mutsila looks a bit of a tough cookie quite capable of ruffling some sensitive feathers. DM’s reaction is rather emotional and dramatic. I don’t bank with Standard Bank, but what I know of them, this incident doesn’t reflect their philosophy. I also don’t think this bit of vaudeville theatre with its cast of amateurs and jobsworths poses a threat to democracy.
Robert, very level-headed comment!
(I am a little bit surprised that DM allowed your comment,
as it is the exact opposite of their drama-queen-reporting-style! 🙂
🙂 and sorry, it took a Google-search and some reading to appreciate your last vaudeville-theatre-sentence 🙂
Quite right by Standard Bank. She was on private property and had no right to be there. In any case she was covering a protest by a doomsday cult and shows no evidence of balanced reporting.
Standard Bank sucks
Amazing that there are AI bots posting comments, and sad that people engage with them. Mjhauptstellenbosch is a funny name for a bot. But then a lot of weird things go on in Stellenbosch, it seems
If you really think that I am a AI-bot, then it is no surprise that you believe in these “doomsday cults”!:
1. Man-Made-Climate-Change
2. Evolution
3. Religion
The question I have is what Standard Bank has to hide, that it removed photo’s from the journalists’ phone? What is it that they did not want the public to see? I think the security of Standard Bank has some serious explaining to do. Even if a journalist is acting out of bounds, there is no reason to remove the stuff on her phone.
standard procedure:
not photos allowed in banks
Mutsila’s body language pointing in a defiant pose outside the building to the Standard Bank employee projects an image of a person looking for trouble. Are journalists not also professionals ? The bank has the right to control what goes on inside their premises. Why must the journalist go inside the building when the protest is going on outside. DM could have engaged with Standard Bank to find out how they will be allowed. Imagine if anyone with a backback and camera goes into a bank with journalist credentials and demand to do what they want. This was provocative actions of DM – not good. It has nothing to do with press freedom. Denise Smit
She was physically assaulted. Her personal records were illegally destroyed by the bank. You might adopt some aggressive/defensive body language in the same circumstances.
From the photo she looked like she learned protest at a Fees must fall or
or Rhodes must fall protest. Denise Smit
The Blue Light Brigade thugs are clearly a role model for security in S.A..
As a reporter she should not be part of the story and certainly not do anything illegal, such as being on the premises after being told to leave. I’m also a but suspicious when the word “assault” is thrown around, especially when you concede she wasn’t hurt. If the people had left after the numerous warnings and if they were not on the floor like dead weights they would be no need to throw them out. The story about deleting the pics also seems odd since phones usually lock and it is unlikely that a common or garden security type would know where to look for the delete folder. Looking at the picture your finger pointing reporter looks aggressive not the bank official.
Exaggeration, getting on a high horse and exceptionalism is a bad look.
I have to say that the body language of Mutsila is way more aggressive than those of the people she is accusing and there is no indication of why she chose to go into private property without authorisation. I would suggest that going forward, she adopt a less aggressive position – as a journalist she is there to report and not to participate and disrupt.
How often have you asked permission to enter a bank? They don’t require it
But they DO have the right to ask you to leave
So we’re just ignoring that the lady’s name is literally Karin?
🤣🤣🤣
I have a few questions.
Was the reporter displaying any ID, identifying her as a reporter?
Why is a professional reporter using a ‘phone, instead of a camera?
It would be quite easy to misidentify her as a protester, pretending to be a journalist, in order to remain inside, and continue taking photos (which is illegal in a bank).
Did the reporter identify herself to bank staff on arrival, or only when confronted.
I worked in private sector security for over 25 years, and can tell you that sometimes you need to get physical with belligerent people.
I see no ‘assault’ here. Only an angry DM presenting a seemingly unbalanced account.
Read the article, she asked for the media representative of Standard Bank which was ignored, also she is a reporter not a photographer.
Is asking a security guard asking Standard Bank Management. Denise Smit
Since when is physical harm the only form of assault?
Is filming and taking photos without consent not in contravention of the ‘poppy act’
According to the press code, journalists are not allowed to enter private property without consent. I’m not sure what that means if they are covering an unfolding event as opposed to trying to interview staff or owners on the property.
Hyperbole of this editorial notwithstanding, I’m sympathetic its main message: Standard Bank, despite supporting journalists through its award, was heavy handed and would prefer not to have negative publicity relating to financing of projects which contribute to climate change. Maybe journalists see a negative trend developing here and, if they’re right, we should all be concerned. Let’s not forget they’re a key mechanism for holding people to account and people in the wrong tend not to like that.
I don’t envy the work of journalists. But if they weren’t a feisty, tenacious and thick-skinned bunch, journalism would be the poorer for it.
Sies Daily Maverick…..this article smacks of feigned outrage…..everyone knows you are not allowed to film inside a bank…..your journalist should know this and i bet put up a hissy fit pissing competition with the bank officials to show your media clout. She should have been shoved out and given a P Klap to boot
Amazing – in South Africa in 2023, this long parade of unselfconscious racists outraged by a photo of a black woman standing up for herself.
O really , now it is racist. Who was it who “assaulte” White security officers? Denise Smit
When all else fails – use the race card.
It seems what we have here is a failure to communicate.
First off, the treatment meted out by Standard Bank’s security staff is a disgrace. In these times, one would assume that global companies would have trained their staff better, being more aware of the public image they portray and the values they are supposed to subscribe to.
But if there is one thing that is guaranteed to raise my hackles, is when any individual sticks a finger under any one else’s nose. I could not get to accept that, from the days of Hitler and PW, to the days of Julius. So I think the journalist my also be lacking in behavioural training. But kudos to DM for publishing that photo; it does paint an honest picture.
I don’t like corporate or government bullies, nor do I like protesting bullies. Mmm, maybe I just don’t like bullies.
As was requested in the comments, can we please get a balanced account of this. If DM erred, please also admit that. Standard Bank, it seems you have some soul-searching to do.
The “treatment meted out by Standard Bank security staff” was NOT a disgrace, they did what they’re employed to do. You are in all likelihood basing this statement on a one-sided biased report of an “editor” defending the deplorable actions of one of his staff. I guarantee the so-called journalist was asked politely and multiple times to leave and when she repeatedly refuses (entitlement culture) she was removed, it’s that simple
Standard Bank obviously do not believe in the freedom of the press. The head of security should have been polite and just asked for her credentials before asking her as a matter of courtesy to rather go outside
Hahahahahaha – you really think they just dumped her outside without asking her to leave first?
Come on, get real mate
What do you expect from a bank? When they allow withdrawals of millions is cash with checks? allow transfers of million abroad?? Banks yes you can trust them with your money!!!
nobody can use a cheque anymore
Did the SAP officer medically examine Ms Mutsila? It’s not within his ambit to make a call about injury – and certainly not on her behalf.
I’m curious to know how they managed to access her phone to delete the data? I can’t imagine a reporter, or almost anybody for that matter, who wouldn’t have a password. (except my father, who hates the whole idea of a smart phone)
And I would have liked it if the article elaborated on the rights of journalists on private property, and if the headquarters of the bank counts as private property. And if consent is needed by the journalist, and if it can be revoked.
How can we just ignore the GBV issue here? STD Bank might be allowed to ask her to leave and you might not be allowed to take photos inside, but this response is absolutely unacceptable. I see comments about the journalist maybe being aggressive, but that is no excuse for this. As a country we have such an issue with GBV and the comments here do no favours to this.
O dear, now we are on the subject of GBV. This is a journalist trespassing and acting aggressively and unprofessionally. Now action to remove her which se aggressively resists is GBV – she must now hide behind her female sex to get away with her actions. This won’t do woman working any good. Shame, poor girl. Denise Smit
Reading all these antagonistic, inflammatory and emotional comments – largely around press freedom versus rights of access to private property/businesses – misses the point entirely behind the original intent of the protest. I am starting to feel like the Daily Maverick reader community has been infiltrated by the uneducated and divisive News24 reader community.
The real question we should all be asking is whether or not there was any “merit” in this group of protesters targeting Standard Bank as the “chief villain” of all things negative about fossil fuels!
What I understand from the initial article is that these protesters decided to target Standard Bank simply because it was the largest Bank in Africa by assets. If these protesters really wanted to affect change then surely they should be protesting outside Gwede Mantashe’s offices? Or Eskom’s offices? Both responsible for ensuring that renewables progress is thwarted at every turn. And what about all the users of fossil fuel – big industrial users like smelters etc. When it comes to financing fossil fuel projects, as far as I am aware virtually every Bank in SA has significantly curtailed (if not stopped) funding for coal projects. And if you still believe the Banks are at fault then why don’t you investigate in detail exactly which banks are supporting fossil fuel projects and then protest to those Banks armed with the facts. But simply to target one Bank because it has the largest assets in Africa is simply lazy!
Dm itself with the name of Branco Brck, made this “asault the subject of discussion, not the readers. Denise Smit
WADE
you said: the Daily Maverick reader community has been infiltrated by the uneducated and divisive News24 reader community.
Are you talking to me?
I am none the wiser having read the article and the ‘rant’ below – a solution for the future, wear a Press bib ???
It’s high time that we wake up from our collective slumber and take a long, hard look at the reality we face. Extinction Rebellion isn’t just a movement; it’s a wake-up call to all of us who’ve been sleepwalking through the profound challenges our world is facing. Please go to “Democracy Now”, please click on link below and see what’s happening around the world.
Our civil liberties are crucial, but what good are they if we don’t have a planet to exercise them on? The cult of denial exists among those who refuse to acknowledge the scientific consensus on climate change and its devastating consequences.
We have a responsibility to future generations to protect our environment, safeguard our civil liberties, and confront the stark reality that’s staring us in the face. It’s time to listen to the voices of organizations like Extinction Rebellion and many others, and take meaningful action to ensure a sustainable and others to transition to just future for all South Africans.
Let’s not be remembered as the generation that ignored the warning signs; let’s be the generation that stood up for civil liberties, acknowledged the climate crisis, and took decisive steps to preserve our planet for generations to come. Moss Tru
Extinction Rebellion and it’s offshoot Just Stop Oil are doomsday cults made up by privileged middle and lower upper class people, mostly the elderly and young students that are absolute fanatics. These cults do nothing of meaning unless you call sitting on a highway to obstruct common people from living their daily lives and (as has already happened a number of times) preventing people from getting critical medical attention. The NEVER go directly to the O&G companies, they NEVER go to countries that are the known worst polluters, the CANNOT have an interview or debate without going completely off their heads – that cannot debate or discuss, they can only repeat nonsense drivel that cannot be substantiated or proven in any way or form. They are complete fanatics and while they distract you with their nonsense, the IMF is preparing to launch the most far-reaching tax regime on the world