Johannesburg - The SABC has finally agreed that four journalists it refused to allow to return to work following a court order, can be back at their desks on Thursday.
This followed trade union Solidarity, who is representing the staffers, threatening to go back to the Labour Court to force to comply with an order.
On Tuesday the court ruled that their dismissals must be revoked after it found they were unlawful. The four were fired for questioning the broadcaster's censorship policy.
“Solidarity and the journalists are obviously very relieved about the latest development. However, we are disappointed that we had to threaten further court action before the dismissed journalists were allowed back at work. The journalists are also relieved that they will now be able to do what they do best – namely to report objectively, especially on the coming local elections,” said Solidarity CE Dirk Hermann.
Hermann added that this was a strategic victory and emphasised that the war has not yet been won. “We call on civic organisations to intensify pressure on the SABC and parliament to bring about a change in leadership at the SABC,” Hermann said.
Labour Bureau