Johannesburg - The SABC has done a u-turn and reinstated the seven journalists it fired last week and it will also no longer pursue any action against them.
On Wednesday morning the SABC refused to accept Tuesday's Labour Court ruling that the broadcaster must allow Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp back at work, stating that it would appeal that decision.
The four were then barred from entering the SABC building and had to return home.
Read: S ABC to allow axed journalists back on the job
Tade union Solidarity, which had taken the matter of Krige, Venter, Steenkamp and Pillay to court, then instructed it’s lawyers to prepare documents that would be filed urgently at the Labour court on Wednesdayafternoon to compel the SABC to adhere to the order.
However, just before Solidarity could file the documents, they received a letter form the SABC stating that it had not only reinstated Krige, Venter, Steenkamp and Pillay but also Lukhanyo Calata, Busisiwe Ntuli and Thadeka Gqubule who were also fired last week.
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An elated Hermann said the decision took them by surprise because there had not been any indication throughout the day that the SABC would finally relent.
“We had given the SABC until 4pm to respond to us regarding the appeal. The documents were completed and ready to be filed when we got the messages from the SABC at 4.05. They did not give the reasons for the reinstatement just that our members must go back to work.
“We see this as an absolute victory, we are relieved. We did not expect that from the SABC; they got good advice. Let’s hope that this is the end of everything,” he said.
The Star