Johannesburg - The three journalists fired by the SABC were at the Labour Court on Thursday morning to listen to their battle with their employer which was taken to court by Solidarity on their behalf.
But within minutes the court proceedings was postponed to Friday to give the SABC a chance to file opposing papers.
Before the court proceedings, Suna Venter, Foeta Krige and Jacques Steenkamp stood and chatted to their legal team. Only Krivani Pillay was not there as she is apparently not well.
Ivor Price later joined the three for support. Price recently resigned from the SABC and was allegedly marched out of the building despite the fact that he was supposed to be there until the end of the month.
Solidarity brought the urgent application to have the decision to fire the four be overturned after the SABC dismissed them on Monday.
Three other SABC staff members - Lukhanyo Calata, Thandeka Gqubule and Busisiwe Ntuli - were fired on Tuesday. Allegations are that services of Vuyo Mvoko, whose contract ends next year, will no longer be sought by the public broadcaster who will let the contract run its course. However, Mvuko has not publicly stated what the situation with him is. However, his lawyer, Aslam Moosajee said he has not been paid.
The eight, referred to on social media as the #SABC8, were suspended after allegedly questioning the SABC's editorial policy that stated the public broadcaster will no longer air violent protests showing the destruction of public property.
Seven of them were later fired, allegedly without even being subjected to a disciplinary hearing.
Solidarity was in court on Thursday to ask that the SABC reinstate Krige, Venter, Steenkamp and Pillay.
In a statement on Thursday morning, Solidarity's Dirk Hermaan said that the other fired journalists were represented by their own trade unions and legal teams.
“A precedent for one is a precedent for all and therefore this case will benefit the dismissed journalists as well as other journalists who are working in fear,” he said.
The Star