SABC 8 reporter dies of cardiac condition

SUNA Venter, one of the so-called SABC 8 journalists fired for challenging former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s policy not to broadcast footage of violent protests, has died.

Venter, 32, died yesterday morning at her home in Fairland, Joburg.

She was one of seven SABC journalists reinstated this year following Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigation into affairs at the corporation.

Yesterday, Venter’s family released a statement announcing that she had recently been diagnosed with a cardiac condition known as stress cardiomyopathy, or “broken heart syndrome”, a condition which causes “rapid and severe heart muscle weakness”.

DA spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme expressed her condolences to the Venter family. “Venter was one of the brave SABC 8 journalists who spoke out against the unlawful interferences and editorial policy changes at the public broadcaster,” Van Damme said.

In the statement, the family said her condition was exacerbated by events of the past year.

“Over the course of the year, she received various threatening SMS messages. The brake cables of her car were cut and her car tyres slashed.”

The family said that earlier this year, she was shot in the face with an unknown weapon and received surgery.

SAPS spokesperson Kay Makhubele said they had opened an inquest.