How social media can get you fired
HARSH punishment or just deserts? That’s the raging debate after popular Lotus FM presenter Ravi Govender got the boot from the station after his Facebook comments about President Jacob Zuma.
“Just hear Zombie Zuma giving a speech on the news. Massacring the beautiful English language. Uneducated creature,” he posted on Friday
Govender later deleted the post and apologised, but Zuma’s son Edward will hear none of it.
He wants Govender to be tried by the Equality Court for his offensive post.
Govender’s legions of fans on social media are mostly standing by him, accepting that while he might have been off-colour with his remarks, he was merely expressing what others felt.
The DA has also sprung to his defence, saying it was hoping to meet with management from the SABC, which owns Lotus FM, later today to discuss the reasons behind the termination of his contract.
Calling the dismissal a bit harsh, DA KZN chairperson Haniff Hoosen told POST they want to find out if Govender was let go after political pressure put on the public broadcaster.
“I have worked with the SABC and Lotus before. When they would take me live on air they would ask me not to say anything about the government or they would be in trouble but I still said it.
“And I would understand if it were political pressure. That is my suspicion anyway,” he said.
Lotus FM’s programme director, Santosh Behari, declined to comment to POST, but SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said Govender’s contract was terminated because he had brought the company into disrepute.
“It’s not about Zuma,” Kganyago said.
“He (Govender) is a public figure and he did whatever he did knowing this. He was in breach of his contract. You need to stay within your contract,” he said.
Edward Zuma was planning to open a criminal case against Govender at the time of publication yesterday.
“Regardless of the fact that his contract at the company has been terminated, we need to set an example. People cannot insult the president. We welcome criticism but not insults,” he told POST.
He said if they kept ignoring such comments on social media, everyone would be taking a swing at Zuma.
“As much as my father is the president and a public figure, we cannot allow this. People should know there are consequences,” said Edward, who found out about the post from a friend.
However, he said those who were making the matter about race were going overboard.
“I will not entertain those comments. This is purely a respect thing and has nothing to do with race.”
Edward said he had shown the post to the president who is “deeply hurt” by it.
Meanwhile, the ANC has welcomed the axing of Govender at the station.
“The media industry is powerful and you cannot use these media to express yourself. He is a public figure. Comments like those can easily damage or destroy a person,” said the party’s Mdumiseni Ntuli.
Govender’s supporters shared their views on Facebook:
“Good men cannot be brought down nor can they be replaced,” wrote one, and another: “I have seen worse comments than what you have said but nothing happened to them – Cry, our beloved country.”
Some seemed to understand there are consequences for one’s actions.
“Hate that Mr Govender has lost his job. But we all gotta learn once again from this. Certain things cannot be said on social media or broadcast on any format,” wrote one.