The settlement of the case between former Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois and Independent Newspapers vindicates the company\u2019s position, they said on Monday.<\/p>\n
This follows the withdrawal of the unfair dismissal case against them by Dasnois, following an agreement reached.<\/p>\n
In a hard hitting statement contradicting some of the points of the joint announcement of the settlement, Independent said the company had an absolute right to act against any editor who demonstrated poor editorial judgement.<\/p>\n
They said Dasnois made a mistake that will forever be a mark on her career, and remained \u201cforever\u201d the only editor not to lead with the Nelson Mandela death story on December 6, 2013.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really feel sorry for Alide who chose to reduce her entire career to one indefensible decision based on everything but editorial imperatives that night. Deep down, in her heart of hearts, she knows this was wrong. I wish her well in her future career,\u201d said Independent Media chairperson Dr Iqbal Surv\u00e9.<\/p>\n
The paper led with an article on an adverse finding by the Public Protector regarding an R800m fishing vessel management tender awarded to a subsidiary of Sekunjalo, the holding company of Independent Newspapers and Media SA, on the day of Mandela’s death.<\/p>\n
Independent Newspapers said it was their view that the former editor\u2019s case was flimsy, had no basis in law or Constitution and was driven by \u201cquixotic public posturing, and had nothing to do with issues of press freedom\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2018Not motivated by racism\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n In the settlement agreement filed in the Labour Court on Friday, Independent Newspapers conceded that her decision was not intended by any way to show disrespect for Nelson Mandela.<\/p>\n They also acknowledged that she was not motivated by racism.<\/p>\n In their statement on Monday, however, they slammed her decision again.<\/p>\n \u201cWe maintain that this was an affront to the dignity and legacy of democratic South Africa\u2019s founder, although Dasnois has subsequently claimed this was not her intention. We must also emphasise that every editor in the Independent group \u2013 and virtually every other journalist \u2013 disagreed with Dasnois\u2019s decision despite her subsequent public posturing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dasnois said on Monday she would not do anything differently, and hailed the settlement as a victory for all journalists.<\/p>\n She said she never thought one decision over “an icon” would have led to her dismissal.<\/p>\n Open Democracy Advice Centre, speaking on behalf of Dasnois, laughed off Independent\u2019s victory lap.<\/p>\n \u201cThey still conceded that it was her editorial prerogative,\u201d head of Advocacy Alison Tilley said.<\/p>\n News24<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Surve justifies Cape Times editor sacking<\/a><\/p>\n Cape Times names new editor amid controversy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on media in SA<\/h3>\n