‘Four axed SABC journalists back at work soon’

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Johannesburg - Trade union Solidarity is confident that four of its members dismissed by the SABC will return to work as soon as next week. Solidarity chief executive Dirk Hermann said: “We believe we’ve done enough to convince the court to reinstate our members. All these journalists want is to do what they love, that's to inform the public.” He spoke shortly after Labour Court Judge Robert la Grange adjourned for the day following a lengthy hearing over the public broadcaster’s decision to dismiss eight journalists earlier this month. The journalists were charged with contravening their employment contracts after they spoke up on internal editorial policies at the state broadcaster, including chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s ban of showing images of vandalised state property during service delivery protests. Solidarity argued that the SABC had acted in an “extraordinary, cynical and patently unlawful manner” and had abused the journalists’ constitutional rights.

The union pointed out that the SABC could not justify the sackings as lawful when the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has declared the policy on protests as unlawful and a violation of the Broadcasting Act and the constitution.

Solidarity lawyer Steven Budlender told Judge La Grange that the SABC’s notion that journalists know they were not allowed to speak to the media, or criticise the organisation’s policies in the manner they did, interfered with their right to freedom of speech.

The four journalists represented by Solidarity are Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp. Others have sought legal counsel from their unions.

Budlender said the union wants its members to be reinstated and for any disciplinary procedures against them to be revoked.

It also said it wants the SABC to establish who was responsible for ordering the dismissals.

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday the journalists had received e-mail notifications from the broadcaster informing them that their medical aids had been cancelled.

Hermann said this was troubling and showed the SABC instilled a culture of fear. “One said they couldn’t sleep at night because they were thinking of their families’ well-being.”

Judgment has been reserved.

Saturday Star