Sanef expresses concern after SAfm radio host Sakina Kamwendo gets pulled off air

The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) says it is deeply concerned with the pulling of SAfm radio host Sakina Kamwendo’s Forum at Eight programme – halfway through the show on Friday.

This after management allegedly instructed producers to take Kamwendo off air with immediate effect and fill the rest of the time with any available music.

This was to be Kamwendo’s last show as the host of SAfm breakfast. It recently emerged that she was to be replaced on the show, but had not been officially informed by station management, Sanef said in a statement on Saturday.

SABC management was purportedly unhappy that during the programme Kamwendo explained the events leading up to the end of the show and her experience of it.

“Sanef notes the encouraging progress that has been made at the public broadcaster when it comes to editorial openness. We have noted these new green shoots over a number of months under the leadership of its interim and new board and with its new management appointments.

“Furthermore, Sanef has noted that it is certainly the prerogative of SABC management to make decisions about programming. However, we believe this incident with Sakina Kamwendo was extremely poorly handled and smacks of censorship,” Sanef’s media freedom sub-committee chairperson Sam Mkokeli said.

Sanef said it believed that Kamwendo should have been given the space to explain to her listeners what had transpired with her show and with the termination of her contract as the show’s host.

“Limiting Sakina Kamwendo’s freedom of speech and expression in this blatant manner is a serious issue and Sanef would not want to see a return to the SABC’s days of censorship.

“The media industry should be supporting all women in this sector – and especially highly competent, courageous black women such as Sakina Kamwendo. We need to ensure the diversity of voices in the industry. Sanef will be engaging the SABC on the matter.”

Below is reaction on Twitter to Sakina Kamwendo’s Forum at Eight programme shut down:

https://twitter.com/ProfTinyiko/status/979972621252071424

Really sad to see @SakinaKamwendo leaving @SAfmRadio. We will miss your frank and direct talk. You are always so professional. I wish you all the best for your future.

— Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) March 30, 2018

I've seen abusive, toxic, incompetent anchors being treated better than this. Whose ego had to be accomodated at Sakina's expense? Not even a dignified exit after 10 years' servive? Pulled off air in middle of show? Never heard of it. https://t.co/Bi0yARoXdO

— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) March 31, 2018

The more things change the more things stay the same at SABC. How do you pull a presenter off air midstream? It’s free Communication 101 that where there’s a news black out news will leak. @SakinaKamwendo couldn’t lie and say I knew before hand that contract won’t be renewed

— Mbhazima Shilowa (@Enghumbhini) March 30, 2018

Dear @SakinaKamwendo, thank you for excellent, thought provoking,courageous conversations and service over the years. Whatever else is going on, remember this. You are a consummate professional, passionate, intelligent and empathetic. #FallForward, dearest sister. @SABCNewsOnline https://t.co/UAVkBw1XY5

— Nomboniso Gasa (@nombonisogasa) March 30, 2018

But in what world would SAFM replace Sakina Kamwendo with the ever incompetent Steven Grootes & Ayanda Allie Paine?

Sakina has literally been loyal to SABC when all journalists left for greener pastures. Now that all is well, they replace her with INCOMPETENCE… mxm!

— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) March 20, 2018

Shame on #SABC for taking @SakinaKamwendo off-air the way they did! @SAfmRadio

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 31, 2018

What happened to @SakinaKamwendo is utterly appalling!
Here's our Sanef statement on the matter… https://t.co/wxCOKiFTU2

— Katy Katopodis (@KatyKatopodis) March 31, 2018

Very sad tribute to @SakinaKamwendo from @SAfmRadio. Honesty i loved her morning show @amliveonsafm. 😭😭

— Not Adv Ngcukaitobi (@AdvNgcukaitobi) March 30, 2018

The censorship of @SakinaKamwendo is a throwback to the era of Hlaudism. A clear reminder that South Africans must still fight to free the SABC of censorship! @SOSCoalition

— Right2Know (@r2kcampaign) March 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/anonymousnthabi/status/979670736636805120

Madam SK @SakinaKamwendo thank u very much for everything you have done for people of Africa. More especially the homeless, the poor, the raped, the neglected etc.

You never failed #Amlive #SABC @SAfmRadio & lastly the people of South Africa.

Enkosi Daughter of Africa.

— Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) (@MyPAConline) March 30, 2018

Oy @ChrisMaroleng what the heck is SABC doing to @SakinaKamwendo. She's one of our nation's best radio personalities. Sort out this abuse of an awesome human being…

— Maggs Naidu ᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@maggsnaidu) March 30, 2018

@SakinaKamwendo u steered Safm AM thru a tough political onslaught & handled the Hlaudi disaster tactfully & bravely, keeping the diminishing SABC credibility alive.U earned your place as a credible professional my mornings will not be the https://t.co/bxD2hA5520 door…. #amlive

— Mike Newlands (@ducatisl2) March 30, 2018

@SakinaKamwendo listening from home & am so emotional. I salute you!!!!! ❤❤❤ #AMLIVE pic.twitter.com/6KabHeCKEI

— Nomsa Mdhluli (@Nomsa_Md) March 30, 2018

Did @SAfmRadio just took @SakinaKamwendo off air? They played music for 30mins, she couldn't even say goodbye to listeners. Wow there's so much drama at times in the broadcasting industry, but we got the idea of what goes behind the scenes.

— Monwabisi Olivier (@MonwaySA) March 30, 2018

I'm a regular caller to SAFM…just find this shocking! Sakina, a Black powerful woman being shuffled for Grootes? Goodbye SAFM. I will switch to something else. We need to start a petition & get those dunderheads at SAFM kicked out. damn. I'm fuming

— Mokone (@mokone_eddie) March 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/Unathi_Kwaza/status/979615367550074880

@SakinaKamwendo has maintained journalistic professionalism par excellence when such was a rarity in her field.
Strong, professional and talented #BlackWomen are always at the receiving end of the brutal brunt of insecure and shallow patriarchy.#SakinaKamwendo, I salute you!

— Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP (@MkhulekoHlengwa) March 30, 2018

Wow! The more things change at the SABC the more they remain the same. @SakinaKamwendo was not given an opportunity to say her goodbyes on @SAfmRadio because the management didn't like what she & listeners were saying, so disappointing. Change, what change? @ChrisMaroleng

— Ntobeko Khuluse (@Ntobeko_Khuluse) March 30, 2018

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