The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will place a full-page advert in the Mail & Guardian on Friday paying tribute to veteran journalist John Perlman.
”We pay tribute to him as an excellent and patriotic journalist,” it said in a statement.
In the 263-word advert, Cosatu describes Perlman as a committed and skilled journalist with great integrity.
No broadcaster can facilitate critical debate without such journalists as Perlman, Cosatu said.
”For more than a decade, Perlman has led the pack as a feisty, thoughtful and deeply committed voice.
”He has helped ensure the public broadcaster has offered a platform for ordinary people to debate many diverse issues in the public interest.”
The advert says Perlman’s departure is an enormous loss for everyone interested in current affairs and for anyone with an ear for entertaining and intelligent journalism.
”He has made us all more respectful of the South African Broadcasting Corporation [SABC].
”We salute you, John Perlman, and we thank you for the many hours of riveting radio you have brought us.”
Perlman is the latest in a long list of journalists who have left the SABC.
He resigned last month, shortly after the news that Nikiwe Bikitsha, his co-presenter on SAfm’s Morning Live, was leaving the public broadcaster.
On Wednesday Cosatu called on organisations and individuals who would like their names to appear on the list of names in the advert to contact the federation.
It said contributions would be welcome, although it had already collected enough money to pay for the advert. — Sapa