The late journalist Suna Venter’s life and work was remembered on the evening of 6 March in a commemorative talk delivered by Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, appropriately titled “Human. Humane. Humanity.” at the Drostdy Theatre during the US Woordfees.
Friends, family and members of the public gathered to hear Dr Sooliman, Venter’s friend and colleague, speak about their friendship and the time they spent working together.
Sooliman, founder of the organisation Gift of the Givers, worked closely with Venter on humanitarian missions, especially in war-stricken parts of the Middle East.
Enter a captionDr Imtiaz Sooliman speaks at the “Human. Humane. Humanity.” commemorative talk. PHOTO: Arleen Stone
Venter, who worked as a correspondent and senior producer for the Afrikaans radio station RSG, often reported on the work done by Gift of the Givers and how conflict and war affects civilians, especially children.
“With Suna it wasn’t about covering the story. Suna was the type of journalist who wanted to go beyond the story, it was always about the situation of the people inside the story,” says Sooliman.
He also spoke about her constant drive to be brave, whether it be in a war zone in Syria, or challenging authority in the SABC. Venter formed part of the so-called “SABC 8”, a group of journalists who defied orders from the public broadcaster to censor protests.
Suna Venter during protest action against censorship by the SABC. PHOTO: Facebook.
Venter (32) was diagnosed with a cardiac condition called stress cardiomyopathy, also known as “broken heart syndrome”, which was aggravated due to the stressful nature of her work and violent threats she received for her defiance against certain members within the SABC.
“Suna was not afraid to challenge authority. She challenged what was wrong, but not for herself. Suna did it for the sake of other people,” said Sooliman.
Sooliman explained that the words “Were you brave?” tattooed on Venter’s arm, served as a reminder of the need to be brave as a journalist.
Sooliman told a captivated crowd that while on a mission together during the Libyan Civil War, Venter never wavered in her work.
“A bomb fell on the building next door while she was busy with an interview, she didn’t even flinch,” Sooliman explained.
Sooliman told the audience how his team members, as well as the communities that they served, could not help but fall in love with the type of person Venter was. The news of her sudden death devastated her Gift of the Givers colleagues.
“There were Muslim boys [in the organisation] crying for a Christian girl. You don’t get that normally. She stole everyone’s hearts.”
Venter’s parents, Phillip and Christa Venter, as well as her brother Wilhelm and his fiancé, were seated in the front row of the theatre.
Friends and family of the late journalist Suna Venter. Back row: Atka Young (Wilhelm’s fiancé), Wilhelm Venter, and Foeta Krige. Front row: Christa Venter, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, and Phillip Venter. PHOTO: Arleen Stone
Suna’s father expressed their appreciation towards the Woordfees and the university for honouring their daughter.
“The fact that Dr Sooliman could speak in her honour is a tribute that we’ll never ever forget. It was truly an honour to listen to him.”
-Lauren Dold and Arleen Stone