eNCA's senior news anchor Andrew Barnes. Picture: Twitter eNCA's senior news anchor Andrew Barnes. Picture: Twitter
Cape Town - eNCA news reader Andrew Barnes is back on the TV after he was suspended for making fun of the Basic Education Minister on live TV.
After a segment of Minister Angie Motshekga’s speech during the release of the matric results two weeks ago, Barnes said: “Maybe someone should have a word with the basic education minister about how to pronounce the word ‘epitome’.”
Barnes made the comment in the midst of the Penny Sparrow race row, in which she compared black people to monkeys.
eNCA management instituted disciplinary procedures against Barnes, and on Tuesday said he would not be fired due to being an exemplary employee with a clean record.
He is expected back on air on Wednesday night.
But the Economic Freedom Fighters aren’t happy with this decision.
Spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said: “Andrew Barnes should have been fired and it means that eNCA is not serious about the dignity of black people.
“They are not taking anti-black racism seriously.”
The Democratic Alliance believes it’s really none of their business, with spokeswoman Phumzile van Damme saying: “It’s an internal disciplinary that eNCA has to deal with.”
The ANC also did not want to give their opinion, with spokesman Zizi Kodwa saying “no comment”, when asked what the party thinks about Barnes returning to the news desk.
* Share your views on our Facebook and Twitter pages. See links below.