'Sies' sees DJ fired

Popularly known as DJ Eddie Crook, Malapane, co-founder of the popular radio station based in Namakgale, was officially dismissed from work on Wednesday for using the Afrikaans word "sies".

Malapane presented a breakfast show on weekdays. The programme focused on current issues.

"My topic at the time was constructive criticism in the workplace. My sin was to use the word sies when referring to people who speak badly about their colleagues to their bosses," Malapane said.

"Sies is an expression of disgust. The definition of sies is shame or pity.

"I did not see anything wrong with using the word because I was expressing my disgust at people who back-stab their colleagues in an effort to curry favour with their bosses."

'There is more to this than meets the eye'

Malapane said a few days after the show he was called to a meeting by station management, where he was suspended for using the "vulgar word" on the air and ridiculing other presenters.

"I appeared at a disciplinary hearing last week and was dismissed on Wednesday. I know there is more to this than meets the eye.

"The real issue is that I was at the forefront of DJs who were against people drawing two salaries as teachers or school principals and also as part of the station's management," he said.

Malapane is not new to controversy. In 2010 he was suspended after two female presenters at the station - whom he was allegedly dating - fought over him, breaking expensive studio equipment.

The chairman of the station's board of directors, Matome Lebea, said he was not informed about Malapane's dismissal and referred this reporter to the station's monitoring and compliance manager, Easy Moagi, who confirmed the dismissal.

"We can confirm that Malapane is no longer in our employ. He was dismissed yesterday for using vulgar language and degrading his colleagues on the air," he said.

Source: Sowetan via I-Net Bridge