The Metro FM host and AIDS activist Criselda Dudumashe’s future at the National Broadcaster seems to be hanging in the balance following the controversial comments she made about former Deputy Minister of Higher Education‚ Mduduzi Manana, who was at the time facing charges of assault.
Dudumashe shared a social media post which seemingly defended Manana’s character, just a few days after it emerged that he allegedly assaulted two women outside Cubana nightclub in Fourways.
Dudumashe was then suspended indefinitely from Metro FM, but it seems SABC has no intentions of bringing her back, according to Sunday Sun reports.
The situation and uncertainty over Dudumashe’s future appears to have affected her health.
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“Yes, I can confirm that the unfortunate incident led to my current health challenge. Having to deal with being completely misunderstood in a deliberate attempt to tarnish my character even by people who I regarded as friends and family was not new, but this time it hit hard because my intention was never malicious,” she said.
“For some, it was just a tweet, Instagram or Facebook response. To my family, it was loss of income and change of livelihood. Having to read about my HIV status used as a weapon to ridicule me, even by people I had counselled and provided guidance to, was a bit hard to swallow. But I’m stronger now.”
Dudumashe believes the decision to have her taken off Metro FM was unfair, especially since she had worked for the SABC for 10 years without any prior incidents.
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“I fully understand how sensitive gender-based violence is, and believe we lost an opportunity to have an empowering dialogue even for my own understanding.”