Pretoria - A South African photographer is one of the many journalists being detained in Libya by Muammar Gaddafi's forces, said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
This comes amid the government's continuing pattern of arbitrary detentions and other restrictions.
Anton Hammerl, who has worked for The Star newspaper, was reportedly taken hostage with three other foreign journalists while reporting on the outskirts of Brega on Tuesday.
The department said it was in a difficult position to offer any help as everyone from the South African embassy in that country has been evacuated.
Meanwhile, messages of support poured in via the social media network Twitter and Facebook on Thursday.
"Praying for a good friend of mine Anton Hammerl and wife Penny," was one of the Tweets. - BuaNews
SA photographer held in Libya
Friday, April 8, 2011