Alide Dasnois

Last updated

Alide Dasnois (born 1950) is a South African journalist and newspaper editor.

Contents

Education and career

Dasnois matriculated from Herschel Girls School and completed a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Cape Town. She obtained a master's degree at the Sorbonne (Université Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne) in Development Economics.[ citation needed ]

During the mid-1980s she worked as a translator in Paris. In 1988, she moved to Reunion Island to work for Témoignages. In 1992, she started working at The Argus in Cape Town where she edited the business section before becoming assistant editor for Personal Finance (Cape Town).[ citation needed ]

In 2001, she moved to Johannesburg and became the editor of Business Report, [1] before working as acting editor of the Pretoria News for a year in 2006. She worked as deputy editor of the Cape Times from December 2006 until April 2009, when she became first female editor of the Cape Times. [2] [3]

Controversy

Free speech activists protesting against the removal of Dasnois as Cape Times editor

Dasnois was removed from her post as Cape Times editor on the weekend of 6 December 2013, shortly after the acquisition of the Cape Times by Sekunjalo Investments Limited. [4] In response to allegations [5] [6] [7] [8] that her removal was in retaliation for an article in the Cape Times [9] reporting findings by the Public Protector prejudicial to the Sekunjalo Group, [10] the executive chairman Iqbal Surve released a press statement indicating her removal was for "under performance" and failure in her "fiduciary responsibilities". [11]

The removal of Dasnois as editor and related threats of legal action from Sekunjalo have elicited statements of support for her and of concern over editorial independence at the Cape Times from Index on Censorship, the International Federation of Journalists, the SA Centre for PEN International, the SA National Editors Forum, the Freedom of Expression Institute, and the Right2Know Campaign. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Dasnois won the 2014 Nat Nakasa award for courage and integrity in journalism from the SA National Editors' Forum, the Nieman Foundation and Print and Digital Media SA. In their citation, the judges – Joe Thloloe, Peter Sullivan and Simphiwe Sesanti – said she had "demonstrated all the qualities required to win this award, such as bravery, integrity and courage". "This she displayed in her career as the editor of the Cape Times, a position from which she was relieved recently by the owners of the newspaper. The official reason for her removal was that she failed to give coverage to the passing away of former South African president Nelson Mandela. This reason was rejected by many, attributing her bosses' move to her publication of a report – on the same day she was removed – by the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, which found the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, Tina Joemat-Petterson, guilty of "improper conduct and maladministration" in an irregular awarding of an R800-million tender to the Sekunjalo Consortium. "Dasnois' supporters pointed out that under her editorship the Cape Times paid tribute to Madiba with a wrap-around edition. The coverage of Madiba's passing was among 15 Mandela covers worldwide especially commended by Time magazine."

Related Research Articles

Basetsana Julia "Bassie" Kumalo is a South African television personality, beauty pageant titleholder, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Her career began in 1990 when she was crowned Miss Soweto and Miss Black South Africa at the age of 16. She was crowned Miss South Africa in 1994 and in the same year became the first runner-up in Miss World.

<i>The Star</i> (South Africa) South African daily newspaper

The Star is a daily newspaper based in Gauteng, South Africa. The paper is distributed mainly in Gauteng and other provinces such as Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, and Free State.

<i>Cape Times</i> Newspaper from Cape Town, South Africa

The Cape Times is an English-language morning newspaper owned by Independent News & Media SA and published in Cape Town, South Africa.

<i>Daily Maverick</i> South African newspaper

Daily Maverick is a South African online news publication and weekly print newspaper, with offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It claims to have a readership of approximately 10 million readers per month. It was founded in 2009 by Branislav Brkic, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of the publication, and Styli Charalambous, its Chief Executive Officer.

Zwelivelile "Mandla" Mandela, MP is the tribal chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of Nelson Mandela. He graduated from Rhodes University with a degree in Politics in 2007.

Independent Online, popularly known as IOL, is a partially Chinese state-owned news website based in South Africa.

The Sunday Independent is a weekly English-language newspaper based in Gauteng, South Africa. It is one of the titles under the Independent News & Media South Africa group acquired by the Sekunjalo Media Consortium largely funded by Chinese state media and was owned previously by Independent News & Media. The paper is distributed mainly in the Gauteng region, but is distributed across South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thuli Madonsela</span> South African public lawyer and anti-apartheid activist

Thulisile Nomkhosi "Thuli" Madonsela is a South African advocate and professor of law, holding a chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University since January 2018. She served as the Public Protector of South Africa from 19 October 2009 to 14 October 2016. In 1996, she helped draft the final constitution of South Africa promulgated by then-President Nelson Mandela.

Debora Patta is a South African investigative broadcast journalist and television producer. She was born in Southern Rhodesia and has origins from Calabria, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death and state funeral of Nelson Mandela</span> Death of South African President and antiapartheidist

On 5 December 2013, Nelson Mandela, the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, as well as the country's first black head of state, died at the age of 95 after a prolonged respiratory infection. He died at around 20:50 local time (UTC+2) at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, surrounded by family. His death was announced by then President Jacob Zuma on national television at 23:45. Reactions from governments, international organizations, and notable individuals, gained worldwide media coverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sekunjalo Investments</span> South African private equity firm

Sekunjalo Investment Holdings is a South Africa-based private equity firm specializing in acquisitions, PIPEs, and buyouts. It has principal operations in publishing, Internet, fishing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecommunication, financial services, aquaculture, biotechnology, enterprise development, events management, travel. The company was founded by Iqbal Survé in 1996 with the aim of investing and assisting black-owned businesses.

Iqbal Survé is a South African entrepreneur, billionaire, medical doctor, and self-professed philanthropist. He is the Chairman of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings, a diversified investment firm based in Cape Town, and the Chairman of Independent Media, one of South Africa's largest media companies. Survé is a controversial figure linked to Jacob Zuma and has been accused of editorial interference across Independent Media titles. He has also reportedly failed to repay loans from the government-controlled Public Investment Corporation and has been accused of using pensioners' money to fund his companies, his lifestyle and his property portfolio.

The Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity is an award presented to a South African media practitioner in newspapers, magazines, broadcasting and online print media and whose reporting celebrates freedom of speech and media integrity. The award is managed and presented by the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF).

The African News Agency (ANA) is a partially Chinese state-funded news and content syndication service, focusing on news about Africa written by Africans for an African and international audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoleka Mandela</span> South African writer and activist (1980–2023)

Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela was Nelson Mandela's granddaughter and a writer and activist in South Africa. She wrote about her addictions in sex, alcohol and drugs, her daughter's death, and her own battles with breast cancer, which killed her in 2023. She wrote When Hope Whispers in 2013.

A Statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled on 24 July 2018. It was placed on the balcony of Cape Town City Hall overlooking the Grand Parade, Cape Town, South Africa. Nelson Mandela was the first post-apartheid president of South Africa and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Ancer</span> South African journalist (born 1970)

Jonathan Ancer is a South African journalist, author, podcaster and media trainer. He wrote Uncovering Craig Williamson, which was on the longlist for the Alan Paton literary prize. Ancer wrote Betrayal: The Secret Lives of Apartheid Spies which was released in 2019.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a South African-based non-profit membership organisation for editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers. The SANEF supports South African journalism through a number of activities ranging from public statements supporting media freedom, running training programs for journalists, writing policy submissions to government, to sponsoring and conducting research into the state of the media in South Africa. The SANEF runs the annual Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity that recognises media practitioners that have improved South African journalism.

Piet Mahasha Rampedi is a South African investigative journalist who was the editor of Pretoria News from 2021 to 2023. He has also worked at the City Press, Sunday Times, Sunday Independent, and as the founder and editor of African Times. He began his career in broadcast journalism in 2002.

Tony Heard, full name Anthony Hazlitt Heard, was a South African journalist, author and government advisor. He is best known for his journalism covering apartheid, most notably interviewing African National Congress (ANC) leader Oliver Tambo in 1985 at a time when it was banned by the South African government. After the country's transition to a new democratic South Africa, Heard became an adviser in the presidency, serving until 2010.

References

  1. Jabulani Sikhakhane appointed editor of Business Report, Bizcommunity.com (17 August 2006)
  2. New Cape Times deputy editor takes up post, Cape Times (4 December 2006)
  3. Alide Dasnois first Cape Times woman editor, Bizcommunity.com (14 May 2009)
  4. South African Government Gazette Notice 998 of 2013 Archived 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  5. SANEF shocked and concerned at axing of Alide Dasnois www.politicsweb.co.za (9 December 2013)
  6. Alide Dasnois Removed as Cape Times Editor Mail & Guardian (8 December 2013)
  7. Alide Dasnois exemplifies quiet integrity and commitment to quality media www.groundup.org.za (8 December 2013)
  8. Firing of Cape Times Editor Raises Eyebrows Business Day (9 December 2013)
  9. Public Protector lays down law Cape Times (6 December 2013)
  10. Public Protector Report #21 of 2013/14, "Docked Vessels" Archived 12 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Statement by executive Director Dr Iqbal Surve www.link2media.co.za (9 December 2013)
  12. van der Westhuizen, Christi (13 December 2013). "South Africa: Cape Times in crisis as editor fired after corruption story". Index on Censorship. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  13. "Demonstration in South Africa calls for reinstatement of Cape Times editor". ifex. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  14. "SA Pen concerned by Cape Times editor's dismissal". The Sowetan. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  15. Adriaan Basson; et al. (9 December 2013). "SANEF shocked and concerned at axing of Alide Dasnois". South African National Editors Forum. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  16. "FXI is deeply concerned about suggestions of inappropriate managerial interference in the editorial independence of the Cape Time". 10 December 2013. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)