5FM says Sol Phenduka features on the Fresh or Vrot segment of the show, where he highlights news that was either "fresh" or "vrot" during the week. In this morning's show, Phenduka talked about the murders of the Van Breda family who were hacked to death in Stellenbosch. The only survivor was 16-year-old daughter, Marli van Breda. Phenduka referred to her survival as "fresh" because she was the only person who can identify her attacker.
5FM says Phenduka's comments, which included him saying she was "gorgeous" and that he would "like to axe her out", but that he "wouldn't X her", have been seen as insensitive, with social media accusing him of making jokes far too soon after such a tragic event.
Despite Phenduka's apology on Twitter, 5FM management has decided to suspend both him as well as the show's producer for three days. The station has also decided to pull the Fresh and Vrot feature completely from the show, effective immediately.
"5FM Management considers this morning's Fresh or Vrot Feature on Fresh@5 to be in utterly poor taste and would like to apologise unreservedly for these comments. The station has suspended two members of the team and has decided that this morning's broadcast of the Fresh or Vrot feature will be the team's last."
