Janet Heard resigns from Cape Times

Contacted by Bizcommunity.com, Heard replied as follows: "Yes I have resigned as head of news. I am soon to take up a new position as parliamentary editor, Media24. An exciting new challenge."

Janet Heard, the latest senior and experienced staff member to depart from Independent Newspapers. (Image extracted from Janet Heard's BlogSpot)

Heard, who on her BlogSpot HEARD MENTALITY describers herself as "a South African journalist currently assistant editor, head of news, at the Cape Times. Passionate about the craft of journalism, freedom and the ocean. A 2009/10 Nieman fellow of journalism", is the latest in a number of senior and experienced staffers who have left Independent Newspapers since Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo group took over late last year.

Alide Dasnois was the first to go, then Chris Whitfield "took early retirement", Terry Bell's column of 18 years' standing was "suspended", and according to an Index on Censorship report, Business Report Cape bureau chief Donwald Pressly was suspended for putting his name forward for the parliamentary lists of the DA. Business Report editor-at-large Ann Crotty resigned and on 14 February, Bizcommunity.com reported that Moshoeshoe Monare, Sunday Independent's editor, had resigned.

Click here for a comprehensive report on the issue.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that according to BD Live, Technology billionaire Robert Gumede plans to sue Sekunjalo executive chair Iqbal Survé and Independent Newspapers for a massive R1bn.