Within hours of eight SABC journalists being fired, TV news anchor Ivor Price resigned.
He said on Twitter that he did not enjoy his work anymore.
He wrote: “[SABC Chief Operating Officer Hlaudi] Motsoeneng’s venomous tentacles have the entire public broadcaster in their grip. Even if he resigns tomorrow or is fired‚ it will be a long time before good journalists will get over the incapacitating fear.”
SABC reporters Vuyo Mvoko, Thandeka Gqubule, Busisiwe Ntuli and Lukhanyo Calata were sacked yesterday, as well as former colleagues Krivani Pillay, Jacques Steenkamp, Foeta Krige and Suna Venter, who were fired via email on Monday.
They were fired for “disrespecting” their employer when speaking out against alleged censorship, after Motsoeneng said there’ll be no more broadcasts of protesters destroying government property.
Five of the journalists will be challenging their dismissals at the Labour Court.
The email letter was posted on social media, and stated: “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.”
Yesterday, the Democratic Alliance protested outside Parliament, demanding it intervene in the “crisis” at the SABC.
Protesters called the broadcaster the “SANC” and held up posters reading: “STOP HLAUDI NOW”.
Addressing about 200 protesters, DA MP for Communications Phumzille van Damme said: “The DA had requested a special meeting of the Communications committee to discuss and find solutions for the governance crisis at the SABC caused by Hlaudi Motsoeneng.”
The ANC has called the protest an election gimmick.
ANC spokesman in Parliament, Moloto Mothapo, said: “It’s unheard of that a Parliamentary party would march against another Parliamentary party in protest at the very programme it designed and agreed to as part of the National Assembly Programming Committee.”
He said Parliament will deal with the SABC issues when it resumes business after the elections.