by Riante Naidoo | Apr 30, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Mcebo Dlamini, Wits’ SRC president, has responded to the statement issued by Wits Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Adam Habib in which Habib’s condemned Dlamini’s recent ‘Adolf Hitler’ comments on a Facebook post. Habib has also referred “Mcebo Dlamini for investigation to see whether disciplinary charges should be brought against him in this regard”.
The unedited version of the statement is reproduced below:
“Wits University is an anti-black space, built on the sweat and back of black mine-workers who are now long forgotten. The University remembers David Webster, Oliver Schreiner, Barney Barnato and hardly remembers Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, Nelson Mandela, Essop Pahad and many others, alive and others dead.
Wits University privileges white bodies, white thought, white culture and white feelings. In fact, Vice-Chancellor Adam Habib went out of his way campaigning that the university residents are not diverse enough without white students who mostly willingly left residents when more and more black students were allowed into the university.
Professor Habib sent me an email informing me about a formal complaint from “a student and an alumnus about your posting,” and the “charge is of course racism.” He asked that I provide a context of this posting and how I respond to the charge that the posting is racist. I wonder why the Vice-Chancellor asks me to provide context when he has already made a public apology to all white people who are offended by a post I made on my personal Facebook account and subsequently conducted media interviews and expressed his condemnation on my remarks.
Racism is the violent process of black people’s subjugation which requires institutional power to continue the subjugation, something black people in general never had even in the democratic dispensation which gave all whites executive clemency for the mass murder of black people before they even went to court. It’s utterly shocking that given the history of this country that we have not come up with a theoretically coherent view and definition of racism. Racism is not defined to avoid offending white people, so anyone can be a victim, perpetrators become victims and victims become perpetrators.
How could black people be racist? Even after years of racist violence, they met in Kliptown and declared South Africa belongs to all, black and white.
Aldolf Hitler like all whites is no friend to black people but I fail to separate him as a freak of nature from the rest of white people. White people came to Africa to enslave black people, an underestimation of 2.5 million died on their way to America. Not a single person has taken responsibility for this genocide. Black people were violently dispossessed by whites of their land, humanity and dignity through capitalist colonial, exploitation, apartheid and structural racism. No one has taken responsibility for this genocide committed by whites.
History teaches us, that our collective experience as black people with whites have always dehumanized us, robbed us of our dignity, reduced us into permanent visitors in our own land, turned us into migrant labour, perpetual beggars and living copse.
Interestingly during the Rhodes Must Fall campaign and the subsequent defacing of other colonial statures, the public discourse did not highlight the atrocities committed against black people by these white colonialists. The black people that found the statures offensive and the ideas of white superiority they represented were labeled as senseless barbaric criminals who should be arrested. The justification was that despite the white supremacist ideas which these individuals held and the violent land grabs they committed, its heritage and should be preserved. In fact, a handful of whites chained themselves onto the statures prepared to die or harm anyone who dares touch their “history.”
I wonder why Professor Habib did not send a public apology to us black people when a fourth year law student Sinethemba Memela was told by a white student “I will fuckin’ kill you, you black bitch!” when she confronted the student about mocking the accent of a black lecturer? Is it because it was a black student who was racially abused? I wonder why he has not written a public apology to our outrage at the fact that at least 30 black workers outsourced to MJL electrical, a white company by the university have not been paid in months or that they’re not allowed into the library if they want to read and not even allowed to use the public toilets they maintain?
I also wonder how whites in their collective conciseness justify their privilege generated out of the indignity, dehumanization and exploitation of black people. Do they think it’s a coincidence that wherever the white/black dynamic exists, the white is always at the top and black at the bottom or is it because they, all of them in their collective consciousness believe in their supposed superiority and hard work and that black people are simply lazy.
I fear that Wits University punishes black radical thought, anyone who dare offends its white established values or offend white Jews will be punished like the 11 heroic students who put their academic careers on the line and challenged university management for bringing its name and values into disrepute by hosting Israeli funded pianist Yossi Reshef.
– SRC president, Mcebo Dlamini.”
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by Riante Naidoo | Apr 28, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Wits Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Adam Habib, has issued a statement condemning the recent Adolf Hitler” comments by SRC president, Mcebo Dlamini on the latter’s Facebook wall on Saturday. In the statement released a short while ago, Habib said he is referring “Mcebo Dlamini for investigation to see whether disciplinary charges should be brought against him in this regard”.
The full statement is reproduced below:
“Dear Colleagues, Students, Alumni and Members of the Wits University Community
The SRC President’s Facebook posts regarding Adolf Hitler and his subsequent comments to our student newspaper were forwarded to me over the weekend by a number of concerned staff, students and alumni. I have emailed the SRC President and asked him to account for his remarks but have not yet received a response.
The Facebook posts and subsequent comments are racist and offensive in the extreme. They make disparaging remarks about various communities and assume a similar characteristic among all white people. Disturbingly, they valorise a racist autocrat who was responsible for the murder of millions of people. Valorising such an individual is utterly unacceptable and especially dangerous in a climate where we are experiencing xenophobic attacks. It violates the fundamental values of Wits University.
In my email to the SRC President, I indicated that Wits strives to be a pluralistic institution and defends freedom of speech, even when this means allowing the expression of views that do not accord with our own views and values. However, we expect our officials to be circumspect in their utterances and to act within the values of the institution. This is a principle that applies to the SRC President and it has clearly been violated in this case.
As such, I am referring Mcebo Dlamini for investigation to see whether disciplinary charges should be brought against him in this regard.
To all individuals to whom this incident may have caused offence, I want to apologise for the fact that someone who is deemed a leader in our community could have made such shocking and embarrassing statements. His behaviour in no way speaks to the values of Wits as an institution.
– Vice-chancellor, Professor Adam Habib”
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by Riante Naidoo | Apr 28, 2015 | Featured 1, News
The South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) said “firm action”, will be taken against the Wits SRC president following his “Adolf Hitler” Facebook post on Saturday. The union called Dlamini a “racist” and said they will ensure he no longer maintains his presidency as he is “a total embarrassment and disgrace to Wits University.”
The South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) said it will take “firm action” against Wits’ SRC (Students Representatives Council) president, Mcebo Dlamini, following his controversial “Adolf Hitler” Facebook post on Saturday.
Natan Pollack, SAUJS chairman, said the union has not yet decided exactly what action will be taken against Dlamini.
In a statement to Wits Vuvuzela, the union called Dlamini a “racist” and said his statements were “anti-Semitic, constituting hate speech according to the South African constitution”.
Pollack said “[Dlamini’s] racist statement that ‘every white person has elements of Adolf Hitler’ is an utter insult to our democratic rainbow nation.”
Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela he researched Hitler extensively and shared his admiration for the former Nazi Germany dictator. “What I love about Hitler is his charisma and his capabilities to organise people,” Dlamini said.
“We need more leaders of such cailbre. I love Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini said.
Pollack added the union was “appalled” by Dlamini’s behaviour, the “anti-Semitic image” he posted which compared a democratic Israel to Nazi Germany and his comment: “I love Adolf HITLER.”
SAUJS said Dlamini’s behaviour was a complete violation of his leadership role as president of the SRC and a “total embarrassment and disgrace to Wits University.”
“This is not Mr Dlamini’s first anti-Semitic comment, nor is it his first time to face disciplinary action from the University, consistently proving his inability to hold a position of leadership,” Pollack said.
Pollack added that the union were committed to ensuring Dlamini no longer leads the University as a “shameful, anti-Semitic racist.”
Late last night, an online petition was created and had reached 230 signatures, calling for the removal of Dlamini as SRC President. The motivation for the petition read: “It is unacceptable on any level for any person, yet alone a figurehead, to make such sweeping, racially motivated antisemitic remarks and express support for a man who sent approximately eleven million people to their deaths”.
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 27, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Wits’ SRC president, Mcebo Dlamini caused controversy this weekend after he posted a Facebook status regarding whites and the state of Israel: “I love Adolf Hitler”. Following his Facebook comments, he told Wits Vuvuzela that he admired the German leader, who sent millions to death camps, for his “charisma” and “organisational skills”.
Mcebo Dlamini, Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) president, posted the statement “I love Adolf Hitler” in a comment thread below a graphic comparing modern Israel to Nazi Germany.
Responding to a commenter who wrote “Hitler new [sic] they were up to no good”, Dlamini replied “I love Adolf HITLER”.
When contacted about his comments on Hitler, Dlamini restated his admiration of the fascist leader of Nazi Germany.
“What I love about Hitler is his charisma and his capabilities to organise people. We need more leaders of such cailbre. I love Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela.
As the leader of Germany, Hitler is generally blamed for triggering World War II and sending over 6-million Jews to death camps as well as Roma, communists and homosexuals.
“I have researched about president Adolf Hitler. I have read books about president Adolf Hitler. I have watched documentaries about president Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela defending his knowledge of the former German dictator.
In the same comment thread, Dlamini wrote that every white person has “an element of Adolf Hitler”.
“I have had numerous encounters with white chaps. From primary till today I live with white chaps … As I said, they are not Hitler but there is an elements of him in all of them. I connected the dots,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini further defended his remarks and suggested that his love of Hitler had “nothing do to with white people”.
“I find it very absurd that people expect me to regard their enemies as my enemies,” Dlamini said. “The same way I love Robert Mugabe, it has nothing to do with white people.”
Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela that “I will write what I like on my Facebook” and was not on the social media platform to “nurse Jewish people’s feelings”.
“Who told them they deserve special treatment? This is an academic space, we must debate issues not to silence individuals,” he said.
In the comment thread, Dlamini said his post had been reported to Facebook. Dlamini responded: “Shame nxaaaaa fok am not removing it…..truth hurts…face it murderers.”
“I LOVE HITLER”: a screen grab of SRC president Mcebo Dlamini’s Facebook post which declares his “love” of Adolf Hitler. Photo: Facebook.
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 24, 2015 | Featured 1, News
The SRC held a meeting for international students on West campus yesterday. Wits’ international community expressed their grievances about paying seven and a half times more to apply to Wits and highlighted the issues of finding a place to live before the beginning of the academic year due to the registration system. A memorandum will be drawn up and given to the vice chancellor later next week.
International students have accused Wits of treating them unfairly by forcing them to pay most of their fees upfront and charging them an application fee 750% higher than that of South African students.
The students aired their grievances at a meeting held by the SRC which accused Wits of “institutionalised xenophobia”. The meeting, chaired by the SRC’s international students officer, Tanya Otto, encouraged international students to voice their concerns in light of recent xenophobic events.
“Our problems are not monolithic,” said Gwinyai Aubrey, the SRC’s strategic planning officer and himself an international student.
CONCERNED: International students expressed stresses of feeling unwelcome in South Africa. Photo: Riante Naidoo
One issue singled out by international students said the application process needed to be reviewed and highlighted fees as a big issue.
International students are required to pay an application fee of R750 and a 75% upfront tuition fee, as opposed to a R100 application fee and 25% upfront tuition fee for local students.
DOWNCAST: International students voiced their concerns at yesterday’s meeting and suggested improvements Wits can make. Photo: Riante Naidoo
“The university may not deliberately do this, but [it] does exclude some of the best minds in Africa from applying,” said one international student.
International students said the online registration only for South African students was a major problem as many of them study on scholarships from their governments and do not have funding to live off campus before lectures begin.
“It makes no sense to make us come and register in the middle of January when lectures only begin in February,” an international student said.
“Where am I to live for almost a month and who will pay for that?” she added.
Delayed financial aid and a lack of cohesion between local and international students were also highlighted as some of their major concerns.
The SRC has undertaken the task to draft a memorandum which will be given to the vice chancellor, Prof Adam Habib next Thursday.
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 24, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Several of Wits University’s foreign academics have experienced difficulty renewing their “critical skills” visas since last year, risking deportation from South Africa. The academics feel there is an lack of understanding of the requirements for the renewal of the visa, which has resulted in protracted delays.
Several Wits foreign academics experienced delays and other issues in renewing their “critical skills” visa which allows them to work in South Africa.
The academics say changes in the visa renewal process since the beginning of this year are largely to blame. This month some of the affected academics finally had their visas renewed after a wait of nearly six months. Associate professor in political studies, Joel Quirk was one of them. “The new system meant a lot more work,” Quirk said.
Quirk resubmitted his paperwork in early December, 2014 and only received his renewed visa last week. Due to the delay he was unable to return home to Australia to join his family for Christmas, or transfer money. In addition, Quirk says he had to decline a month-long visiting fellowship at a university in Milan, Italy.
“There’s no one in SA, or who’s visited SA, who’s had to go to Home Affairs and who has good stories to tell about their efficiency,” Quirk said. “I’m not going to pretend I’m unique in this regard.”
Professor Tawana Kupe, Wits’ Deputy Vice-Chancellor, told Wits Vuvuzela the renewal of visas has been difficult as the new system requires the applicant to show they have critical skills which are needed in South Africa, to remain working here.
Associate Professor Joel Quirk received his renewed visa 5 months after being rejected and reapplying. Photo: Riante Naidoo
“For us, a person who teaches a subject that is their specialty, who can supervise students in honours, masters and PhD, have critical skills,” Kupe said.
But, he said, delay was caused by a lack of clarity about the paperwork required and the definition of critical skills needed by the Department of Home Affairs. Professor David Hornsby, vice president of the Academic Staff Association at Wits University (ASAWU), agreed with Kupe.
“I submitted on the grounds that I had a permanent job at Wits, and a PhD from a foreign university,” Quirk said, “which constituted the Act of the Home Affairs criteria.”
However, his application was rejected on the grounds that he did not have the necessary skills and experience as specified in the Act.
Vice president of ASAWU, David Hornsby, said the organisation has supported foreign academics as best as possible. Photo: Riante Naidoo
“There seems to be a real disconnect between what is enshrined in the law and the policies and what is being interpreted by Home Affairs officers,” Hornsby said.
“If I understand correctly, it’s that the Home Affairs officers are unhappy with the current regulations and think they’re problematic so are therefore not enforcing them.” Hornsby referred to this as “vigilantism which is going on” and said it is concerning for all foreign employees.
Wits University’s intervention
According to Kupe, Wits Vice Chancellor Adam Habib was intrumental in setting up a specific division in Home Affairs “to deal with the backlog”.
“If an academic has applied and there are delays, I take up the case with Home Affairs and push it,” Kupe said.
The support system, which runs through the offices of Kupe and Wits Human Resources director, Dr Kgomotso Kasonkola, has assisted almost 10 foreign academics so far.
“Whether it is five people or one whose visa is delayed, it is a worry for us because we need that person,” Kupe said. “If we didn’t need the person, they wouldn’t be here but we need their critical skills as there are students waiting in class.”
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 16, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Fictitious social media posts instilled fear of xenophobic attacks in Pietermaritzburg over the past week. This came after two Congolese men were subjected to an attack in Howick, outside KwaZulu-Natal’s capital on the weekend. The two men were saved by local taxi drivers who, according to reports, said “there’s no place for xenophobia in Howick”.
A fear of xenophobic attacks spread through parts of Pietermaritzburg this week because of social media reports which claimed two foreign nationals were “brutally” murdered along with a picture of a dead man. The reports though were incorrect.
Instead local residents were responsible for preventing an attack on two Congolese men as they shopped in Pietermaritzburg. On Saturday, Morisho Hamissi and Mukobwa Gilbert, were attacked by a man who wielded a spanner at a shop.
RESCUED: From left: Morisho Hamissi, Moses Kilozo and Mukubwa Gilbert in Howick, outside Pietermaritzburg relieved to have been saved by locals after an attack on Saturday. Photo: Mfundo Mkhize
The men say they were rescued by local taxi drivers who told the attacker,“there is no place for xenophobia in Howick” according to local media reports.
“I was going to buy food at Chicken Palace when I heard people murmuring about foreigners,” Hamissi told reporters. “Then they started shouting at me. Suddenly a man came in wielding a spanner and started to attack me. ”
Hamissi reportedly said he was grateful for the locals support. When the attacker’s family learned of the incident, they allegedly rushed over to the foreign nationals’ house and apologised, according to local media reports.
In media reports, Moses Kilozo, another Congolese national, said this was not the first time foreigners were victimised and targeted.
He added that they have regularly been subjected to insults from locals.
*Sourced from Martizburg Sun, The Witness and Public Eye.
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 10, 2015 | Featured 1, News, Sport
The Two Oceans marathon, which initially started out as a training run for Wits lecturer, Caroline Wostmann, turned into the biggest win she has ever achieved. Wits Vuvuzela caught up with her to reflect on her win in Cape Town and Comrades preparation.
Photo: Facebook: Caroline Wostmann
At dawn last Saturday morning Caroline Wostmann set out in the cool Cape air for what she thought would be a training run. Three hours, 41 minutes and 23 seconds later, she crossed the finish line winning the Two Oceans marathon as the first South African woman in 14 years.
Wostmann, a Wits finance and management accounting lecturer, said her immediate reaction after she won was that it was God’s will for her on that day as it was something she was not expecting.
“I was just feeling so, so good, I was having one of those days when everything felt easy,” she said.
Wostmann started training for the Two Oceans as part of her preparation for the upcoming June Comrades Marathon.
“I wasn’t planning on using Two Oceans as a race,” Wostmann said. “I was going to use it as training but I felt so good on the day, it turned into a race and I was definitely racing at the end!”
“I planned to run at my easy running pace,” she said. “If I was comfortable after 42kms I thought I’d pick up the pace and if I was lucky enough, get into the back-end of the top 10 in just under four hours.”
Wostmann said she ran with various groups of people along the route and enjoyed chatting and running alongside them.
She said she realised the seriousness of her position when she moved into third position and “picked up the pace and pushed harder”.
“I didn’t comprehend as I was running that there was a possibility I could win it,” she laughed. “Until right at the end when I moved into first place.”
“When I went into the lead, from that point, I thought, wow, I am winning the Two Oceans Marathon and there is no way I am going to let anyone pass me now!”
Wostmann said she does not have a pre-race ritual, however sticks to a diet of high-protein shake and bananas before a marathon.
“My husband and my two kids are my biggest supporters,” Wostmann said. “My husband is fantastic with supporting me, from taking the kids to school when I have early morning runs, or riding alongside me with water.”
Wostmann and her daughter Gabriella, 7, on a run through the muddy Sabie trail. Photo: Twitter @11Caz11
“My kids are so accommodating,” Wostmann said. “It’s always: Mommy are you going to run now? And not: Mommy do you have to go run now?”
Wostmann began running seven years ago after the birth of her first daughter Gabriella in order to lose weight. Once she became fitter, she joined the Midrand Striders running club.
“There were so many people at the club who ran the Comrades that’s what got me inspired,” she said.
Wostmann has run four Comrades marathons. She secured 6th position last year and was the first South African woman over the finish line.
This is Wostmann’s second Two Oceans Marathon which she ran as part of her Comrades preparation. Her training consists of running an ultra-marathon every two weeks (for the past eight weeks), a two-hour long midweek run and a weekly hill training session.
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 7, 2015 | Featured 1, News
After skipping grades 7, 9 and 10, Previn Naicker graduated from Wits with a PhD in Biochemistry last year at the age of 23. Wits Vuvuzela caught up with the alum at the end of graduation week.
He hopped out of his dad’s car, slung his sling bag over his right shoulder and made his way toward the science building. A relatively normal first day for any other university student, except that Previn Naicker was 14 years old.
Naicker graduated last year as the youngest Witsie to obtain his PhD in Biochemistry, at 23. In grade 6, he was offered a scholarship to Star College in his hometown, Durban, where he and several other pupils underwent an accelerated program. Naicker skipped grades 7, 9 and 10 and matriculated in 2005 at age 14.
After he obtained his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Naicker took a break from the books. “I took a gap year in 2010, to decide whether I wanted to pursue further studies or enter the job space,” he said. “Once I decided on furthering my studies, I realised that I needed to add to my arsenal of biochemical techniques.”
WHIZ KID: Previn Naicker is busy at work in the CSIR lab on the development of protein particles. Photo: CSIR
Previn set his sights on Wits in 2011 where he did his Honours, Masters and PhD. “As Wits is home to some of Africa’s leading protein biochemists, I decided to take on a Masters with Prof Yasien Sayed from the School of Molecular and Cell Biology,” he said.
Being considerably younger, Naicker said his age was always noticeable but positively received with age-related jokes which “lightened serious moments.”
Naicker said the greatest time spent at Wits was discovering things about his personal and scientific life. “It was a defining period of my life where I also met my current fiancé who is a fellow Witsie.” He felt his greatest achievement at Wits was that he attained an internationally reviewed PhD.
Naicker is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria where he undertakes research projects in the veterinary field and the development of protein particles.
Naicker aims to grow as a researcher in the upcoming years. “I would like to establish myself as an independent researcher and undertake translational research, research which has a direct socio-economic impact.”
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 4, 2015 | News, Sport
Caroline Wostmann, a Wits University Accounting lecturer, is the first South African woman to win the 56km ultra-marathon race after 14 years. She has previously run the Comrades marathon and has made her mark in South African road-running.
Wits University Accounting lecturer, Caroline Wostmann won the 56km Two Oceans woman’s race this morning, with a time of 3:41:18.
Media reports indicated that Wostmann was the first South African woman to win the 46th consecutive Two Oceans Marathon race since Gwen Van Lingen’s win in 2001.
Wostmann tweeted a photograph of encouragement to her fellow runners last night before they took to the road this morning.
Caroline Wostmann tweeted this photograph last night, to encourage her fellow marathon runners. Photo: @11Caz11 (Twitter)
South African sports minister, Fikile Mbalula, tweeted a photograph with Wostmann in June, acknowledging her “excellence” and referred to her as a “superwoman.”
Fikile Mbalula presented Caroline Wostmann with a cheque after the Comrades Marathon. Photo: Twitter @RSA Min of Sport
The 56km ultra-marathon, described as the “world’s most beautiful race” by participants and supporters on Twitter, followed the “back-up” route over Ou Kaapse Weg and through Tokai, due to the recent Cape fires near Chapman’s Peak, and ended at the University of Cape Town.
Wostmann, who ran the Comrades marathon in June last year, took the overall 6th place with a time of six hours and 51 minutes.
Congratulatory messages have poured in all morning for Wostmann from news agencies, politicians, family, friends and proud Witsies.
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 2, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Musician Carlo Mombelli will present “Carlo Mombelli and the Stories Ensemble” this Saturday night at the Great Hall, Wits University. The jazz show is a part of the year-long concert series presented by the Wits Theatre.
Musician, Carlo Mombelli gets ready for a concert backstage. He is a composer at Wits University. Photo: Reza Khota
A shiny piano, large wooden cello, tall brass trombone beautifully accompanied by African vocals will fill the hollowness of the Great Hall at Wits University on Saturday night.
As a part of a year-long concert series presented by Wits Theatre, Wits University’s own Carlo Mombelli will showcase his work together his group of acclaimed musicians.
The group consists of three South African and three European musicians. “I work with the incredible pianist Kyle Shepherd, who was the Standard Bank young jazz artist of the year in 2014, and the amazing Zulu singer, Mbuso Khoza,” Mombelli said.
“I have brought over three incredible musicians from Europe,” he added. Drummer, Dejan Terzic, won the German jazz musician of the year, trombonist, Adrian Mears worked for ECM Records and cellist, Daniel Pezzotti is from the Zurich Opera Orchestra.
Mombelli and his group are ending their South African tour with the Great Hall performance this weekend and look forward to playing for the Wits community. “Great Hall is a very special venue,” he said, “Beautiful acoustics, fantastic piano and a real listening experience.”
Mombelli’s passion for music earned him his doctorate degree and in 2010, a permanent post at Wits to run ensembles and teach improvisation and composition techniques. His current show, Carlo Mombelli and the Stories Ensemble, was inspired by his many life events.
by Riante Naidoo | Apr 1, 2015 | News
The South African Press Association (Sapa) closed down last night after board members pulled the plug on the 76-year old wire news service. Social media users and professionals in the media industry voiced their sadness at the institution’s closure, however there is a possibility that a profit-driven wire service could be established in the near future.
The 76-year-old South African Press Association (Sapa) closed down yesterday after its last story was published at midnight.
Media reports indicated that the company’s future was uncertain for more than a year. The closure came after board members, consisting of representatives of institutions that funded the service, started to pull out of the “not-for-profit entity” since 2013.
Media professionals speak out
Jos Charles, chairperson of the National Press Club, said in a statement that “the club joins the South African media fraternity in mourning the sad demise of Sapa.”
Head of Wits Journalism, Professor Anton Harber, said in a radio interview that industry will not be same without Sapa as it played an important role as the “bedrock of South African news coverage for seven decades”.
“To me, more than anything else it symbolises the short-sightedness of most of our media owners, publishers and broadcasters who have failed to see the value of Sapa and failed to invest in it to deal with the challenges facing the news industry,” Harber said.
Liquidation, retrenchment and CCMA
Minette Ferreira, chairperson of Sapa, said the company will be liquidated after its assets were disposed of, as its non-profit category did not allowed for it to be sold-off.
Since last September proposals were received from Gallo Images, KMM Review Publishers and Sekunjalo Investments for the acquisition of the Sapa assets.
The Mail & Guardian reported that Sapa staff members were retrenched but in February this year, some staff took the organisation to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to challenge their dismissals.
Ferreira added that the Sapa board had “underlined its commitment to ensuring the interests of Sapa employees were correctly and meticulously attended to”.
