Johannesburg – The SABC has informed the four journalists who successfully challenged their dismissal in the Labour Court that it will appeal the ruling, trade union Solidarity said on Wednesday.
Solidarity spokesman Dirk Hermann said they had received letters from the SABC telling them not to return to work.
“All four journalists received letters from the SABC lawyers telling them to not go to work today [Wednesday] as the employer is appealing the Labour Court decision.”
Solidarity said that when the four - Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) executive producer Foeta Krige, Afrikaans news producer Suna Venter, journalist Jacques Steenkamp and SAFM current affairs producer Krivani Pillay - went to work on Wednesday monring, the SABC refused them access to their workplace.
On Tuesday the SABC was ordered to reinstate the four in a scathing judgement delivered by Judge Andre van Niekerk.
The court said the termination of their employment last week was unlawful.
The SABC was 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.
The suspension and subsequent dismissal of several journalists drew widespread outcry from civil society and political parties.
Last month, the ANC condemned the SABC for its decision to stop showing footage of the destruction of property during protests, and said the policy went against its mandate as the country’s public broadcaster.
The journalists earlier this month approached the Constitutional Court for direct access to argue to have the ban on airing footage of violence reversed.
Last week, the SABC made a U-turn and said it would reverse the ban after it was challenged in the North Gauteng High Court court by the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF).
The public broadcaster negotiated and reached a settlement with the HSF in court.
The SABC also eventually agreed to implement an earlier ruling by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ordering it to lift the ban on covering protests.
African News Agency