According to Kasumba, what started as no more than spilling some water in a studio became an employment dispute that has led to her leaving because of a spat with the station's bosses.
In a letter to The Times newspaper, Kasumba called the radio station's published claims — that the spill led to damage to electronic equipment of R250 000 — “unfounded”. She is claiming that YFM has overstated the cost of the damage by R235 000.
“I deserve the right to tell the truth in an attempt to expose the fabrications that have been doing the rounds, particularly in the Sunday papers,” she wrote.
The spill that led to all the trouble happened during her show on 4 November 2008, when she knocked over a bottle and water spilt onto a studio desk.
Kasumba said she could not mop up the water and told technicians at the radio station about the accident. She also told YFM bosses Kanthan Pillay and Vukile Zondi and apologised.
Two days later, Zondi told her she was suspended and would have to appear at a disciplinary hearing charged with “gross negligence”, because it would cost R250 000 to repair the damaged desk.
“This is definitely a lie and a spiteful thing to say,” said Kasumba. “Mike Penny, YFM's technical manager, informed me that the repairs would only amount to about R15000.”
The response of Pillay, who is CEO of YFM, is that “Kasumba has been dismissed following an internal disciplinary process chaired by an impartial third party. The findings of that hearing are confidential unless Kasumba chooses to share them with you. If she does, I suggest you ensure that you see the entire document, which has eight pages and seven itemised sections.”
“Kasumba had the right to appeal the judgement on a number of grounds and did not avail herself of that opportunity. She also has the right to take the matter to the CCMA at which point the findings of the hearing will become a matter of public record,” he added.
