Senior SABC journalist and one of the eight who went head-to-head with the public broadcaster at the Labour Court, Suna Venter, has tragically passed away.

32-year-old Venter’s body was reportedly found at her flat this morning. She was a senior journalist and producer at Afrikaans station, RSG.

According to her family, Venter was known to have been suffering from a heart condition known as stress cardiomyopathy, also known as Broken Heart Syndrome, believed to be caused by trauma and prolonged periods of stress.

Venter had originally been suspended with other colleagues for standing up against the SABC over its policy to not broadcast footage of violent public protests.

She also took part in a march at the SABC offices a year ago to demand the end to censorship and her and her colleagues reinstatement.

The SABC eight went to court after being fired from their jobs without proper disciplinary procedure being followed after their suspensions. The Labour Court ordered the SABC to immediately reinstate them.

Over the past year, Venter had been subject to physical intimidation, death threats and break ins at her residence for her role as part of the SABC 8 and the testimony they gave during the SABC Inquiry in Parliament.

Her family believes the past year’s events had exacerbated her condition.