JOHANNESBURG: The SABC has declined to say whether the reinstated journalists would be allowed back at work after the Labour Court ordered that their dismissal had been unlawful.
As the journalists wait to see whether they will be allowed back at work, following yesterday’s ruling by the Labour Court in Johannesburg that overturned the SABC’s decision to axe them, the public broadcaster’s spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, remained non-committal on the fate of the journalists.
Asked whether the SABC had a problem with the journalists reporting for duty, Kganyago said their lawyers were busy studying the judgment.
The SABC fired Suna Venter, Foeta Krige, Jacques Steenkamp and Krivani Pillay last week Monday for misconduct. Other colleagues – Thandeka Gqubule, Busisiwe Ntuli and Lunkhanyo Calata – were fired on similar charges.
The SABC was interdicted from continuing with the disciplinary proceedings against the four and the court also made an unusual order regarding the costs of the application. It ordered that Sebolelo Ditlhakanyane, the SABC’s general manager for radio news and current affairs, and Malolo Tebele, acting group executive for news and current affairs, file affidavits stating why they should not be personally held liable for all or part of the costs of the application.
The letters of dismissal that were served to the journalists bore Ditlhakanyane’s name and signature.
Solidarity, meanwhile, expressed fears the journalists might be victimised when they return to work.
Right2Know hailed the court’s ruling, saying it was another blow for the broadcaster’s “incompetent” board and the cabal around chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng.