NAMIBIA Media Professionals Union (Nampu) executive committee member Tileni Mongudhi on Friday asked one of Namibia’s biggest media houses to treat one of its reporters “like a human being” and with dignity.
He called for justice for Namibian Sun senior reporter Jemima Beukes in a disciplinary hearing she was subjected to in Windhoek on Friday.
This comes after Beukes was allegedly barred by her employer, Network Media Hub (NMH), from access to representation in the hearing.
NMH chief executive Albe Botha and managing director Frank Steffen were not available for comment on Friday.
The company has charged Beukes with insubordination.
Mongudhi on Friday expressed disappointment about the manner in which NMH is treating the journalist, who is also Nampu’s secretary general. Beukes was allegedly not given access to a representative during the hearing.
“We are a union which was formed to represent the interests of journalists. In the case of Jemima Beukes, we are just asking that whatever it is she did . . . can the media company treat her like a human being and give her dignity, and subject her to a dignified disciplinary hearing process, where she has access to representation and fairness?” he asked.
Mongudhi said Beukes applied for access to a representative, but was allegedly denied by the company.
Meanwhile, Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters commissar and activist Michael Amushelelo was almost forcefully removed by the police for entering the NMH building in solidarity of Beukes.
He, however, eventually allegedly volunteered to leave on the advice of some of the company’s staff members.
Amushelelo labelled the disciplinary hearing process as unconstitutional, as it “robs the journalist’s right to representation”.
He cautioned that if such “unlawful practices” are allowed, Namibia’s press freedom is in danger, calling it a “banana press freedom”.
He urged journalists to stand up for their rights and fight the injustices perpetrated by their employers.
Contacted for comment, Beukes on Friday said: “Every generation has its own cause to fight. And here I am.”
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