Cape Town - Lukhanyo Calata, the Cape Town parliamentary reporter who led the charge in the Western Cape against apparent censorship at the public broadcaster, has been fired by the SABC with immediate effect.
Earlier this month Calata, the son of struggle activist Fort Calata of the Cradock Four, was charged with contravening SABC rules.
Calata had publicly criticised the SABC’s controversial decision to no longer cover protests in the country, receiving widespread support for his stance.
A letter from the SABC’s Human Resources department to Calata issued on Monday reads: “It is common cause that you have made it known to the SABC that you will continue to disrespect the SABC, your employer.
“It has now become clear to the SABC that you have no intention to refrain from your conduct of undermining the SABC and the authority of its management. In the premise your continued acts of misconduct have become intolerable,” the letter says.
Breaking News: Lukhanyo Calata fired by #SABC pic.twitter.com/I75mP9v3No
— IOL News (@IOL) July 19, 2016
Special Assignment executive producer Busisiwe Ntuli and SABC economics editor Thandeka Gqubule were also reportedly fired by the public broadcaster on Tuesday.
This follows Monday’s sacking of SAfm current affairs executive producer Krivani Pillay, RSG executive editor Foeta Krige, senior investigative journalist Jacques Steenkamp and senior journalist Suna Venter.
IOL