The South African broadcaster e.tv has refused one of its journalists, Beauregard Lucian Tromp from going on special study leave after he was chosen as only one of a few people around the world to attend a study programme as part of the prestigious Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University - prompting Beauregard Lucian Tromp to resign.
The last time a South African was chosen as a Nieman fellow but was not allowed to attend the overseas programme was in 1965.
Besides Beauregard Lucian Tromp, only 11 other journalists from countries around the world are chosen for this prestigious international study opportunity.
Asked for comment, eNews senior management in a statement says "Beauregard Tromp is a worthy recipient of the Nieman Fellowship. We are very proud of him for being selected."
According to the statement, three eNews staffers have received scholarships to Columbia University within the past year and the eNews senior anchor Nikiwe Bikitsha will be taking special leave from August to take part in the Hubert Humphrey's Fellowship in the United States.
eNews says the news operation sent two journalists to Duke University in the past year which eNews funded, and that two eNews staffers go to Atlanta for training with CNN every year.
"It is within this context, and in order to treat all applicants fairly, that eNews requires staff to have worked for the company for a minimum of three years before being eligible for special leave." eNews says the policy was instituted because in the past employees have abused the system with people allowed to go on fellowships who fail to return to e.tv's employment despite contractual obligations, and some who have resigned immediately after they've returned.
"Beauregard Lucian Tromp only joined our company towards the end of last year and is therefore not eligible," says eNews. eNews says Beauregard Lucian Tromp didn't apply for the Nieman Fellowship for 2013 but for 2011. "This year the Nieman selection committee in South Africa failed to secure a candidate and so took the rather unusual step of granting the 2013 position to a past and unsuccessful candidate."
"Beauregard Lucian Tromp understands and respects our company position, and is mindful that many other members of our team are ahead of him in the queue when it comes to special leave," says eNews. Furthermore an open invitation was extended to Beauregard to return to eNews should he wish to do so after the programme. His future is in no way compromised by the decision to resign in order to take up the Nieman offer."
