As the phone hacking scandal that hit the UK is unraveling, a new paparazzi activity on South African icon, ex-president Nelson Mandela affectionately called 'Madiba's property has been discovered by Police. As they say, if you are a celebrity like the madiba, even your cough is newsworthy and so the media will go to any length to scoop on him or his family members. South African police have confiscated cameras they say were illegally filming Nelson Mandela's house in his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
Police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said two media groups were being investigated.
The cameras were found in a neighbour's house and had been constantly filming the ex-president's residence, he said.
The anti-apartheid icon, who is 93, has appeared increasingly frail since he retired from public life in 2004.
Col Naidoo said under South African law, it was illegal to film or photograph the houses of presidents and former presidents as they were considered "national key points".
Police were informed about the cameras approximately a week ago, he said.
"When our police got there they discovered that the cameras were indeed there and the house was being constantly filmed," he said.
Once investigations were completed, the police would approach the public prosecutor "to determine a way forward".
He declined to reveal the name of the media groups suspected of placing the cameras in Qunu, where Mr Mandela grew up.
Mr Mandela stood down as South Africa's president in 1999 after serving one term, handing over to Thabo Mbeki.
After leaving prison in 1990 following more than 27 years in jail, he led the African National Congress party to a landslide victory in 1994 - the first time South Africa's black majority was allowed to vote.
Police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said two media groups were being investigated.
The cameras were found in a neighbour's house and had been constantly filming the ex-president's residence, he said.
The anti-apartheid icon, who is 93, has appeared increasingly frail since he retired from public life in 2004.
Col Naidoo said under South African law, it was illegal to film or photograph the houses of presidents and former presidents as they were considered "national key points".
Police were informed about the cameras approximately a week ago, he said.
"When our police got there they discovered that the cameras were indeed there and the house was being constantly filmed," he said.
Once investigations were completed, the police would approach the public prosecutor "to determine a way forward".
He declined to reveal the name of the media groups suspected of placing the cameras in Qunu, where Mr Mandela grew up.
Mr Mandela stood down as South Africa's president in 1999 after serving one term, handing over to Thabo Mbeki.
After leaving prison in 1990 following more than 27 years in jail, he led the African National Congress party to a landslide victory in 1994 - the first time South Africa's black majority was allowed to vote.
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