Doctor Starts Funding Initiative For suspended EWN Journalist After The Julius Malema Incident. A doctor from Johannesburg started a funding initiative to help the suspended Eyewitness News journo Barry Bateman who has reportedly not been given his month’s salary.
A doctor from Johannesburg started a funding initiative to help the suspended Eyewitness News journo Barry Bateman who has reportedly not been given his month’s salary. This happened after the man was seen cussing at Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema at a sudden press conference in September at Pretoria. The journalist was caught by television cameras when he called Julius Malema a ‘p**s’ when he walked away after speaking to the media.
The news company, Eyewitness News, suspended the man and thus also apologised for what happened. The journalist has recently apologised to the Economic Freedom Fighters leader in a letter, he also acknowledges the steps that his employers have taken. Doctor Jonathan Witt opted to start the funding initiative on Tuesday. The doctor did this after letting it know how he feels about the man not being given his month’s salary.
The doctor is a co-host on the Renegade Report. The money is sent straight to the journalist’s bank account. Dr. Jonathan Witt says the employer coerced an apology out of the journalist. “So it appears as if EWN forced an apology out of Barry Bateman, they dare not piss off their friends in the EFF. An apology to a bunch of fascists is one thing, suspending a top journalist who has a family to support without pay is another entirely. Sad state of affairs,” says Dr. Jonathan Witt. Barry Bateman also acknowledged that the account was his. He recently reached the target of his monthly salary. The journalist apologised to the Economics Freedom Fighter leader, the public and his employers for how he acted on Tuesday.
by Alexandra Ramaite
