Courage in the face of danger

“Freedom of the press is a precious privilege that no country can forgo.”– Mahatma Gandhi

In 2016, the country watched as eight journalists stood up to the public broadcaster to protest against the censorship imposed by COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the capture of the newsroom. They would become known as the SABC8. While many might remember the headlines, photos and footage that circulated during that time, few know the real story: the way lives

were changed while history was being made. Now, Foeta Krige, one of the SABC8, shares his version of those events

IT’S not paranoia if they’re really after you. Some would ascribe what happened to coincidence. Unfortunately, there were just too many incidents in too short a time.

On Wednesday, 14 September, Madelaine and I were on our way to the Kalahari, travelling in the car with former colleague and Monitor presenter Cobus Bester and his wife, Elmaré. Jamaine and Madelaine’s mother were alone at home. Suna was preparing to go to Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape.

That Monday, 12 September, I had written a letter to SABC management from Suna and me. I sent it to James Aguma and Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and cc’d Simon Tebele, Sebolelo Ditlhakanyane, Angie Kapelianis and Mannie Alho: “We would like to bring to your attention: From Friday, 26 August, your employees Ms Suna Venter and Mr Foeta Krige started receiving threatening SMS messages.

“Ms Venter received the first SMS portraying her as a liar and traitor. Mr Krige received his first SMS on Monday, 29 August. The last SMSes were received by both employees on Monday, 5 September. The aim seemed to be to intimidate the employees to stop them from proceeding with legal action involving the SABC.

“The intimidation started two days after the Parliamentary portfolio committee’s meeting in Parliament with SABC executives. At that meeting, the so-called SABC 8, but especially the four employees who won their labour court case, were called ‘liars’, ‘traitors’ and ‘racists’. It is also during that meeting that Mr Hlaudi Motsoeneng (COO) vowed to ‘deal with RSG’. The two staff members concerned work for RSG: Current Affairs.

“Several of the messages contain or refer to facts that were contained in highly confidential correspondence between co-workers or between co-workers and their attorneys. It is thus clear to us that our communications are being intercepted.

We request assurances from the SABC regarding our safety, as well as assurances that an investigation into the matter will be launched.”

Four hours and almost 400km later, we stopped at the Spur in Vryburg for brunch before tackling the next 200 kilometres to a guest house outside Hotazel, our destination for the first night. We were just settling in at our table when I received an SMS.

11:13 OK YOV WERE WARNED. “F***!” I said, startling those around me. I showed them the message. “What now?” Madelaine asked. “Jamaine and my mom are alone at the house. We cannot leave them there.” I then received another message, this time from Suna. She had got the same SMS.

Suna took the message to the head of detectives at the Florida police station, Lieutenant Colonel Chowles. His reaction was frustrating, yet unsurprising: “Don’t worry about it. It is only intimidation. You’ll be okay.”

Later, Suna informed me that she had spoken to a contact, who had then introduced her to a member of the Community Policing Forum who lived two minutes from our house. They had promised to keep an eye on the property and on our family.

This was reassuring to a certain extent, but when we arrived at the guest house that night, the uncomfortable nervous feeling was back.

Both Madelaine and I were having second thoughts about our “relaxing” few days away, imagining our daughter and her granny alone at home. We knew that this was a game to intimidate. But the uncertainty and fear that something might happen while we were far from home, left us feeling helpless and guilty.

The following morning, we drove towards Askham, a small town in the Northern Cape.

Suna was on her way to the Eastern Cape. She was 160km into her journey when one of her car’s tyres had a blow-out. After changing the tyre, she headed to the first workshop in town, where she fitted four brand-new tyres. Before arriving back in Johannesburg after the 10-day break, she would have three more blow-outs.

Our destination was a couple of kilometres away from the entrance gate to the farm Leeupan. It was the perfect weekend retreat. Normally, I would have relished the fact that we had no cellphone reception, but I was worried about not having contact with our family back home.

When we left the Kalahari the Sunday morning, Cobus was in the driver’s seat of his Toyota Fortuner, and I was sitting next to him, with Madelaine and Elmaré in the back, when we heard a loud bang. The vehicle started to swerve out of control, but Cobus managed to steer us safely onto the shoulder of the road. For a split second, I caught myself scanning the surroundings, looking for a possible perpetrator. I tried to reason with Madelaine, who was shaking like a leaf, believing that we had been shot at. I could not help thinking of Suna’s blow-out. I checked the tyres on Cobus’s Fortuner. They were all new.

SABC8 costs R280 and is published by Penguin Random House