eNCA has been accused of being unAfrican and unconstitutional for refusing to let their female reporters wear doekies.
The eNCA newsroom is reportedly split in half after a line editor removed footage of reporter Nontobeko Sibisi wearing a scarf off air.
In leaked emails, Sibisi is seen to challenge the decision and ask why the doek, which was worn for her Africa Day coverage, was deemed unprofessional, reports The Star.
Sibisi wrote: “Last week, I put together a story on an African cross-border music collaboration of four musicians from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa... Now because for nine seconds of an about three-minute piece, I appear wearing a doek - the story was taken off air without my knowledge.
“Some of us have been half naked on TV, in PJs, gowns, ballet tutus, speedos, boxing gear all fitting to a particular context - yet somehow a doek was offensive enough during a significant and celebratory day and month in our continent. I personally find this is double standards.”
In the email thread, her colleagues stand by her and some even threatened a doek protest.
Reporter Phakamile Hlubi said: “...eNCA’s style guide is unAfrican and in my view unconstitutional. It needs to be rewritten.”
eNCA and eNews Editor-In-Chief Anton Harber commented on the matter on 702, saying: “There’s obviously some staff members who feel that our policy needs review, and we’ll do that.”
He added that the line manager who made the decision was abroad and he’s been unable to query the matter.