Johannesburg - M-Net has until 2pm on Monday to announce a decision regarding axed Idols SA judge Gareth Cliff, his lawyer has said.
Eric Mabuza confirmed on Monday that Cliff would sue M-Net for R25 million for wrongful dismissal and defamation of character if the broadcaster did not reinstate him.
Read: Gareth Cliff suing M-Net for R25m
The DJ and president of online radio station Cliff Central also wants to be reinstated on the Idols SA judging panel.
Filming for season 12 of the competition is expected to begin at the end of the month.
“Mr Cliff wants his job back as auditions for Idols SA are starting on January 29,” Mabuza told The Star. If M-Net did not concede, Cliff would stop auditions from taking place by suing the broadcaster.
“As we speak, advocate Dali Mpofu is preparing court papers,” Mabuza said.
He said a letter of demand had been sent to M-Net on Friday, saying they should reinstate Cliff as a judge on the Idols SA panel.
“M-Net has until today at 2pm to announce a decision to do so or the court papers will be served,” Mabuza said.
Read: Gareth Cliff dropped from SA Idols
The broadcaster announced earlier this month that Cliff had been fired from Idols SA after he got involved in the Penny Sparrow debacle.
In a Facebook post which sparked monumental social media outrage, Sparrow, a former estate agent, referred to black people as “monkeys”.
Cliff then weighed in on the issue, tweeting that “People really don’t understand free speech at all.”
After widespread criticism, Cliff has said on his blog his comments were taken the wrong way.
Mabuza said M-Net fired Cliff without a proper hearing and neglected to hear his side of the story.
M-Net’s CEO Yolisa Phahle has confirmed that a letter of demand was received from Cliff.
“We are currently consulting our lawyers. We will respond to the letter of demand in due course."
The Star