Solidarity hails #SABC workers’ court victory

Fired SABC journalists Foeta Krige and Suna Venter at the Labour Court last week. Picture: Botho Molosankwe

Fired SABC journalists Foeta Krige and Suna Venter at the Labour Court last week. Picture: Botho Molosankwe

Published Jul 26, 2016

Share

Johannesburg - Trade union Solidarity has hailed a Labour Court ruling that four SABC journalists must return to work as a victory for workers and broader society.

The court ruled on Tuesday morning that their dismissals for questioning the SABC's censorship policy was unlawful and that they should return to work with immediate effect.

The court said that journalists Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Jacques Steenkamp and Krivani Pillay were entitled to return to work immediately and continue with their duties and responsibilities.

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.

Solidarity, which represented the four journalists, told reporters on Tuesday that it was disappointed that it had to go all the way to the Labour Court to challenge the matter.

“This ruling signals a message that we live in a constitutional democracy, because the SABC came up against the interests of the law,” said Solidarity chief executive Dirk Hermann.

“This ruling is not just a win for Solidarity, but for the colleagues who fought against this saga, the South African media that stood up for press freedom,” said Herman.

Hermann said a reason why the SABC dismissals and court challenge had turned into such a huge saga was because SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng had challenged the country's democracy.

He said Motsoeneng had succeeded in uniting South Africans across the board.

Solidarity said that the four journalists had been advised not to speak to the media because they were now employees of the SABC again.

“We can't wait to go back to work tomorrow,” said Pillay.

Labour Bureau

Related Topics: