Support for SABC journalists suspended over opposition to protest blackout

“We stand with Foeta‚ Suna and Thandeka‚” say friends‚ family‚ journalists and South African Broadcasting Corporation employees following the suspension of three SABC senior journalists.

Pictures of those in solidarity with economics editor Thandeka Gqubule‚ RSG executive producer Foeta Krige and Afrikaans news producer Suna Venter‚ who were served with the papers last week stating that they were suspended indefinitely‚ are circulating on Facebook and Twitter.

The pictures show individuals with black insulation tape across their mouths‚ with some also covering their eyes and ears.

Jamaine Krige‚ a journalist for The Herald and daughter of Foeta‚ said in a Facebook post: “I stand with those who refuse to be the tape that muffles the voice of the people‚ and with those strive daily to keep you informed‚ against all odds‚ against the growing tide of censorship and oppression.”

Gqubule‚ Krige and Venter were allegedly suspended for disagreeing with an instruction‚ during a diary conference meeting‚ not to cover the Right2Know (R2K) campaign’s protest against censorship at the public broadcaster.

SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng had argued that showing footage of the destruction of public property would encourage such actions.

Motsoeneng said it was in keeping with the SABC’s mandate “to educate the citizens‚ and we therefore have taken this bold decision to show that violent protests are not necessary”.

“It is regrettable that these actions are disrupting many lives and as a responsible public institution we will not assist these individuals to push their agenda that seeks media attention‚” he had said.

Some of the other campaigners included current employees of the SABC: Busisiwe Ntuli‚ an executive producer for Special Assignment; Krivani Pillay‚ an executive producer for SAfm; as well as Jacques Steenkamp‚ a specialist investigative reporter for the SABC‚ among others.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said on Friday that it was shocked by the suspension of three senior journalists.

“Sanef urges the SABC to immediately lift the suspensions of these journalists. Journalists in a constitutional democracy have a right to express themselves freely‚” the organisation said in a statement.

“Sanef will write to the SABC to insist that it must respect the rights to freedom of thought and expression of journalists.”

Gerard van Niekerk‚ a freelance cameraman and television producer‚ took to his Facebook page and said that 1985 journalists were working under severe media restrictions and a similar stance was taken then to “protest against censorship”.

“SABC management would now like to take our country back to such a repressive system.

“While journalists in a constitutional democracy have a right to express themselves freely‚ the SABC must respect the rights to freedom of thought and expression of journalists‚” Niekerk said.

Sharing some of the ‪#‎IStandWithFoetaSunaThandeka messages on her own Facebook page‚ Jamaine thanked those standing behind her father.

“Thank you! Dankie! For every person who shared and for every person who updates their status and joins in. Soon the silence will be deafening‚” she said.

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." Today, I stand in solidarity with colleagues, friends and family who refuse to be silenced. I stand with those who refuse to be the tape that muffles the voice of the people, and with those strive daily to keep you informed, against all odds, against the growing tide of censorship and oppression. Today, . Will you stand with us?