/ 7 July 2008

No resolution yet in Zikalala negotiations

The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s suspended head of news, Snuki Zikalala, and representatives of the broadcaster will return to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in two weeks’ time for further discussions.

Zikalala was suspended by group CEO Dali Mpofu in May. Mpofu alleged that Zikalala had leaked confidential company documents.

”They have gone away for two weeks to try and sort things out,” said CCMA director Nerine Kahn on Monday.

Zikalala and representatives of the SABC’s industrial relations department will meet again on July 21.

The parties met at the labour-dispute resolution body on Monday as a follow-up to a previous meeting about Zikalala’s suspension.

On Friday, the SABC denied a media report that Zikalala might be reinstated. Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said he did not know anything about a possible reinstatement.

The Times newspaper reported that a special meeting of the SABC board had been convened to consider a lawyer’s opinion on the legality of Zikalala’s suspension.

Meanwhile, Mpofu will return to the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday in a continuation of the challenge to his own suspension, which followed his action against Zikalala.

”The case is on,” he said. — Sapa