Suna Venter

Last updated

Suna Venter was a South African current affairs journalist, fiction writer, and senior radio producer at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). She was one of a group of eight journalists known as the SABC8 who were suspended in 2016 for objecting to the editorial policies implemented by SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Most notably the policy by the SABC of refusing to air protest footage. The policy was reversed following a parliamentary enquiry. [1]

Following their suspension the journalists including Venter were the victims of numerous death threats, home break-ins and other forms of intimidation to get them to drop a Constitutional Court case against the SABC. [2] [3]

Death

On 29 June 2017, Venter was found dead in her home in Kelland, Johannesburg. She was 32 years old. Her death is believed to have resulted from stress induced cardiomyopathy caused by the intimidation attempts against her following her and her colleagues' criticism of Motsoeneng's policies. [4]

The Inkatha Freedom Party made a statement following her death that she "was a hero of all times." [5] Others condolences came from included those from South African journalists as well as the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, [6] and Right2Know. [7] [8] [9]

Suna was survived by her mother Christa, father Philip, sister Tessa, and brother Wilhelm. The SAPS is investigating her death, but the investigating officer told the family that her death was caused by heart failure.

Related Research Articles

Rivonia Trial 1963-64 arrest and trial of activist leaders in Pretoria, South Africa

The Rivonia Trial took place in South Africa between 9 October 1963 and 12 June 1964. The Rivonia Trial led to the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and the others among the accused who were convicted of sabotage and sentenced to life at the Palace of Justice, Pretoria.

South African Broadcasting Corporation State-owned public broadcaster in South Africa

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations (AM/FM) as well as six television broadcasts to the general public. It is one of the largest of South Africa's state-owned enterprises.

Steve Hofmeyr Musical artist

Steve Hofmeyr is a South African singer, songwriter, writer, actor and former TV presenter.

Ahmed Kathrada

Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada, sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist.

Anna Politkovskaya Russian journalist, writer, and activist (1958–2006)

Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist, and human rights activist who reported on political events in Russia, in particular, the Second Chechen War (1999–2005).

Pravin Gordhan South African politician

Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan is a politician and anti-apartheid activist who has held various ministerial posts in the Cabinet of South Africa. He served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015, and as Minister of Public Enterprises since February 2018.

The Constitution of South Africa protects all basic political freedoms. However, there have been many incidents of political repression, dating back to at least 2002, as well as threats of future repression in violation of this constitution leading some analysts, civil society organisations and popular movements to conclude that there is a new climate of political repression or a decline in political tolerance.

Economic Freedom Fighters Political party in South Africa

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African left-wing to far-left pan-Africanist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema, and his allies, in 2013. Malema is President of the EFF, heading the Central Command Team which serves as the central structure of the party. The party itself has been accused of fomenting anti-white and anti-Indian racism, and Malema himself was convicted in 2011 for singing the song "Shoot the Boer". It is currently the third-largest party in both houses of the South African Parliament.

Azwihangwisi Faith Muthambi is the former Minister of Public Service and Administration and former Minister of Communications of South Africa.

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).

Black First Land First Political party in South Africa

Black First Land First (BLF) is a black consciousness, pan-Africanist and revolutionary socialist political movement and political party in South Africa. It was founded in 2015 by Andile Mngxitama following his expulsion from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema.

The Gupta family is a wealthy Indian-born family with business interests in South Africa, whose most notable members are brothers Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh "Tony" Gupta—as well as Atul's nephews Varun, and US-based Ashish and Amol. The family owns a business empire spanning computer equipment, media, and mining. The family became synomous with corruption in South Africa and has been sanctioned by multiple countries for their activities.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng is the leader of African Content Movement (ACM) who served as the acting Chief operating officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) from 2011 to 2013. Motsoeneng was removed from his position as Chief operating officer after it had been found that he lied about his qualifications. After being removed as acting Chief operating officer it was announced that Motsoeneng would move back to his previous position as Group Executive Editor of Provinces and Corporate Affairs of the SABC. In December 2016, the Western Cape High Court ruled that Motsoeneng's appointment as Group Executive was illegal and that he was "not entitled to occupy any position at the SABC".

2019 South African general election General election held in the Republic of South Africa

General elections were held in South Africa on 8 May 2019 to elect a new President, National Assembly and provincial legislatures in each province. These were the sixth elections held since the end of apartheid in 1994 and determined who would become the next President of South Africa.

Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube is a South African producer, actress and daughter of former President Jacob Zuma and African National Congress (ANC) politician Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and daughter-in-law to Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change Alliance politician Professor Welshman Ncube.

Political parties that contested the 2019 South African general election Parties that contested the 2019 South African general election

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced on 20 March 2019 that a record number of 48 parties had registered candidates for the national parliamentary election. This is 19 more parties that contested the 2014 national elections. In the provincial legislature elections, the total number of parties registering candidates were:

Ntombezinhle Jiyane is a South African DJ, producer, media personality and business woman, who is better known by her stage name DJ Zinhle.

Baby Cele - Maloka is a South African actress born in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal.

Luzuko S'phelo Nteleko was a South African actor and entrepreneur. He is best known for the roles in the television serials Mfolozi Street, Zone 14, Streets of Mangaung, Gauteng Maboneng and Muvhango.

Mutodi Neshehe, was a South African actor and model. He is best known for the roles in the television serials and soap operas such as Muvhango, Generations the legacy ,Jacob's Cross, Skwizas and Broken Vows.

References

  1. ↑ MAILOVICH, CLAUDI (30 June 2017). "SABC8 journo Suna Venter dies of 'broken heart'". Timeslive. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  2. ↑ HOFSTATTER, STEPHAN (18 September 2016). "Death threats spook SABC staffers". Timeslive. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "SABC 8 journalist Suna Venter dies from 'Broken Heart Syndrome'". iol. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  4. ↑ Etheridge, Jenna (29 June 2017). "SABC-8 Journalist Suna Venter Dead At 32". Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  5. ↑ Phakgadi, Pelane (1 July 2017). "SUNA VENTER WAS A HERO". ewn.com. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Kathrada Foundation salutes Suna Venter, slams BLF threats" . Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "BLF also Gupta cronies". politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Tributes flow for 'a jewel'" . Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Friends, colleagues bid farewell to 'brave, fiesty' [sic] Suna Venter". News24. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.