Cape Town - Three more of the journalists commonly referred to as the #SABC8 were fired from the public broadcaster on Tuesday
SABC economics editor Thandeka Gqubule, Special Assignment executive producer Busisiwe Ntuli and SABC parliamentary correspondent Lukhanyo Calata on Tuesday became the latest journalists to be fired from the public broadcaster in apparent reprisal for opposing editorial policy.
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.
Vuyo Mvoko, the most senior member of the #SABC8, is still awaiting his fate.
The SABC journalists have been fired for speaking out against the policy guidelines laid down by contested chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, that have been widely denounced as censorship reminiscent of the apartheid regime.
In the letter dated July 18 but circulated on Twitter on Tuesday, SABC acting general manager for TV News Gathering, Nyana Molete, writes that Calata and the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media, and Allied Workers Union (BEMAWU) did not provide an adequate response to management charges raised against him.
“It is common cause that you have made it known to the SABC that you will continue to disrespect the SABC, your employer,” wrote Molete. “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.”
Molete called Calata's continued conduct “intolerable” and said he had been dismissed with immediate effect.
Molete than referenced Lukhanyo's right to approach the CCMA should he not be “satisfied with the decision”.
Molete appeared to refer to Calata's decision to give an interview in which he strongly objected to the SABC's refusal to televise violent protests and to directives to the parliamentary bureau's news coverage.
Calata went public with his concerns on the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of the Cradock Four, the group of anti-apartheid activists which included his father.
Calata could not immediately be reached for comment. The SABC failed to respond to inquiries.
African News Agency and IOL