Johannesburg – A photographer for The Star was injured when a Red Ants security guard fired a rubber bullet in his direction, the newspaper reported on Thursday.

Motshwari Mofokeng fell to the ground after being struck below the right shoulder in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

He and other reporters from The Star were covering an eviction of illegal residents living in a building once used as a factory on Hardy Street.

Editor Makhudu Sefara condemned the incident.

“The Star will exhaust every possible avenue to ensure that the man who shot Motshwari faces the full brunt of the law,” he said.

“Too many photographers have been beaten and even shot in the line of duty recently. Yesterday [Wednesday] they picked the wrong newspaper. We intend making an example here and now, before one of our colleagues is killed.”

The newspaper’s lawyers helped Mofokeng open a criminal case.

SA Gun Owners Association spokesperson Martin Hood, said rubber bullets were a non-lethal alternative to live ammunition.

Krugersdorp firearms trainer Andre Pretorius, of the Professional Firearm Trainer’s Council, said rubber bullets could cause death.

He said although rubber bullets – including the lighter ammunition fired from shotguns – were described as non-lethal, the more accurate description was “less lethal”, as they could cause serious injury or even death if used at close range. 

SAPA