Alide Dasnois

Alide Dasnois (born 1950) is a South African journalist and newspaper editor.

Education and career

Dasnois matriculated from Herschel Girls School and completed a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Cape Town. She obtained a master's degree at the Sorbonne (Université Paris I - Panthéon Sorbonne) in Development Economics.

During the mid 1980s she worked as a translator in Paris. In 1988, she moved to Reunion Island to work for Témoignages. In 1992, she started working at The Argus in Cape Town where she edited the business section before becoming assistant editor for Personal Finance (Cape Town).

In 2001, she moved to Johannesburg and became the editor of Business Report,^[1] before working as acting editor of the Pretoria News for a year in 2006. She worked as deputy editor of the Cape Times from December 2006 until April 2009, when she became first female editor of the Cape Times.^[2][3]

Controversy

Free speech activists protesting against the removal of Dasnois as Cape Times editor

Dasnois was removed from her post as Cape Times editor on the weekend of 6 December 2013, shortly after the acquisition of the Cape Times by Sekunjalo Investments Limited.^[4] In response to allegations^[5][6][7][8] that her removal was in retaliation for an article in the Cape Times ^[9] reporting findings by the Public Protector prejudicial to the Sekunjalo Group,^[10] the executive chairman Iqbal Surve released a press statement indicating her removal was for "under performance" and failure in her "fiduciary responsibilities".^[11]

The removal of Dasnois as editor and related threats of legal action from Sekunjalo have elicited statements of support for her and of concern over editorial independence at the Cape Times from Index on Censorship, the International Federation of Journalists, the SA Centre for PEN International, the SA National Editors Forum, the Freedom of Expression Institute, and the Right2Know Campaign.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Dasnois won the 2014 Nat Nakasa award for courage and integrity in journalism from the SA National Editors' Forum, the Nieman Foundation and Print and Digital Media SA. In their citation, the judges - Joe Thloloe, Peter Sullivan and Simphiwe Sesanti - said she had "demonstrated all the qualities required to win this award, such as bravery, integrity and courage". "This she displayed in her career as the editor of the Cape Times, a position from which she was relieved recently by the owners of the newspaper. The official reason for her removal was that she failed to give coverage to the passing away of former South African president Nelson Mandela. This reason was rejected by many, attributing her bosses’ move to her publication of a report – on the same day she was removed – by the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, which found the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, Tina Joemat-Petterson, guilty of “improper conduct and maladministration” in an irregular awarding of an R800-million tender to the Sekunjalo Consortium. "Dasnois’ supporters pointed out that under her editorship the Cape Times paid tribute to Madiba with a wrap-around edition. The coverage of Madiba’s passing was among 15 Mandela covers worldwide especially commended by Time magazine."

References

1. Jabulani Sikhakhane appointed editor of Business Report, Bizcommunity.com (17 August 2006)
2. New Cape Times deputy editor takes up post, Cape Times (4 December 2006)
3. Alide Dasnois first Cape Times woman editor, Bizcommunity.com (14 May 2009)
4. South African Government Gazette Notice 998 of 2013
5. SANEF shocked and concerned at axing of Alide Dasnois www.politicsweb.co.za (9 December 2013)
6. Alide Dasnois Removed as Cape Times Editor Mail & Guardian (8 December 2013)
7. Alide Dasnois exemplifies quiet integrity and commitment to quality media www.groundup.org.za (8 December 2013)
8. Firing of Cape Times Editor Raises Eyebrows Business Day (9 December 2013)
9. Public Protector lays down law Cape Times (6 December 2013)
10. Public Protector Report #21 of 2013/14, "Docked Vessels"
11. Statement by executive Director Dr Iqbal Surve www.link2media.co.za (9 December 2013)
12. van der Westhuizen, Christi (13 December 2013). "South Africa: Cape Times in crisis as editor fired after corruption story". Index on Censorship. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
13. "Demonstration in South Africa calls for reinstatement of Cape Times editor". ifex. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
14. "SA Pen concerned by Cape Times editor's dismissal". The Sowetan. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
15. Adriaan Basson; et al. (9 December 2013). "SANEF shocked and concerned at axing of Alide Dasnois". South African National Editors Forum. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
16. "FXI is deeply concerned about suggestions of inappropriate managerial interference in the editorial independence of the Cape Time". 10 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.