Johannesburg - As the four employees who were fired by the SABC prepare to get back to work, there are fears that they may be victimised.
Solidarity movement expressed fears that Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Jacques Steenkamp and Krivani Pillay may be victimised when they return to work following their reinstatement by the Labour Court on Tuesday.
The fear is once they are back at work their employer could find something “nitty gritty” to charge them with.
The four were summarily dismissed last Monday allegedly after they had spoken to the media about their happiness over SABC's plan to ban airing footage of violent protests in which state property was being vandalised.
Their other colleagues - Thandeka Gqubule, Busisiwe Ntuli and Lunkhanyo Calata - were fired the following day.
Solidarity took the matter of Venter, Krige, Steenkamp and Pillay to court and emerged victorious on Tuesday morning when they court ordered the SABC to reinstate them.
The court ruled that their dismissals for questioning the SABC's censorship policy was unlawful and that they should return to work with immediate effect.
The SABC has also been interdicted from continuing with any related disciplinary proceedings against the four.
Their managers have also been ordered to tell the court within five days why they should not be held personally liable for the legal costs of the journalists.
However, after the celebratory hugs and tears following the judgment, Solidarity pondered how the four will negotiate their way back into their different newsrooms.
Solidarity chairperson Dirk Hermann said they will protect the employees against any victimisation should they encounter any at work.
“The Labour Relations Act is very clear on victimisation. We will do everything in our power to make sure that we protect then against any form of victimisation. We will act very harshly,” Hermann said.
A member of their legal team, Johan Kruger, said they would watch the SABC closely and ensure that the judgment was implemented so that the four go back to work immediately.
“If SABC now says they want to appeal this we will approach the court in an urgent basis to say this must stand pending any other legal proceedings.
“We want them back at work and there are legal mechanisms to achieve that and we will certainly explore that.
“Victimisation could constitute finding some or small other nitty gritty thing to now charge them again. It's something we must monitor not only on behalf of these members but other members that are employed by the SABC,” Kruger said.
The Star and Labour Bureau