Siyashuta! Capturing police brutality on mobile phones in South Africa

Abstract

Many poor Black South Africans are starting to find their voice by capturing events on mobile phone cameras, ubiquitous devices amongst all sectors of society. Citizens' video journalism is providing visual evidence that cannot be mollified by political rhetoric, exposing injustices such as illegal corporal punishment at schools, gang rape and police violence. These mobile videos, through the platform of a tabloid newspaper's Facebook page, function as catalysts that allow narratives of critique to emerge and grow through social media conversations.