South Sudanese security agents have arrested a South African national working for Freevoice South Sudan, a day after being summoned by the information ministry, according to a report by the online daily Sudan Tribune.
De Wet Spies, the acting country representative for Freevoice South Sudan, was reportedly arrested from their Juba office in Nimra Talata area on Friday evening, the report says.
“He was summoned on Thursday to appear at the office of the director of information, Paul Jacob. He [Jacob] told De Wet that Freevoice was doing good things, but were involved in Radio Tamazuj [which] is a ‘very bad radio station’,” a source told Sudan Tribune by phone.
“They agreed that the ministry would send a letter. But the letter never came and they instead brought security guys to arrest him [Spies]”, added the source who preferred not to be identified.
Sudan Tribune further reports that security agents were reportedly irked by Radio Tamazuj’s recent reports on the controversial National Security Bill passed on Wednesday amidst protest from opposition MPs. The bill allows security operatives to detain, make unauthorised arrest of suspects, monitor frequencies, wireless systems, publications, broadcasting stations and postal services to prevent any form of misuse.
Freevoice, an international non-governmental entity legally registered in the country, operates separately from Radio Tamazuj. Until recently they were sharing some facilities in Juba.
Freevoice’s country representative could not be reached for comment.