Dasnois to fight dismissal as Cape Times editor

Dasnois met with her legal representatives on Tuesday morning after which she issued a short statement.

"I believe my dismissal was unfair and I will be taking the dispute to either the CCMA or the Labour Court‚" she said.

Dasnois was dismissed as editor of the Cape Times suddenly this last weekend by Independent Newspapers chairman Iqbal Survé.

Gasant Abarder has replaced Dasnois but his previous employer Primedia's Eye Witness News‚ where he worked as news editor‚ is mulling legal action and has accused him of being in breach of contract.

Independent Newspapers owns the Cape Times‚ the Cape Argus‚ the Star in Johannesburg and about 15 other English-language titles around the country.

The dispute centres on Dasnois's refusal to publish a front-page apology concerning Sekunjalo Investments' involvement in the controversial R800m tender for the crewing and management of state-owned fishing vessels.

Survé is also the executive chairman of JSE-listed Sekunjalo Holdings.

Sekunjalo's lawyers issued legal letters against Dasnois and Cape Times reporter Melanie Gosling in their personal capacity last week.

However‚ the matter will now go before the press ombudsman.

On Monday Survé denied Dasnois had been dismissed‚ saying she had been offered an alternative position and was awaiting her reply.

He pointed to the Cape Times's falling circulation figures as the reason for her dismissal.