eNCA mum on disciplinary procedures as Andrew Barnes returns to air
Cape Town – eNCA (DStv 403) isn't revealing any detail about the disciplinary procedures related to Andrew Barnes' suspension.
The Sabido-run TV news channel says Barnes will be back on air on Wednesday, 20 January after being off-air for two weeks, but is silent on what specific steps the "sanction" taken against the removed midday anchor entails.
The TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform removed Andrew Barnes with immediate effect as NewsDay anchor on 7 January and started disciplinary proceedings after he quipped on-air about the minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga, that "maybe someone should have a word with the basic education minister on how to pronounce the word epitome".
eNCA management said Barnes' comment was "not only hurtful and unnecessary but deeply insensitive".
Andrew Barnes apologised following the social media firestorm that engulfed eNCA, and also did an on-air apology as part of an eNCA report on the matter.