The Johannesburg High Court on Monday set aside the suspension of South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) CEO Dali Mpofu.
”I rule that the meeting at which the decision was taken to suspend Mpofu was unlawful,” said Judge Moroa Tsoka.
The judge said it appeared that a ”deliberate decision” was taken to exclude Mpofu from the SABC board meeting where his suspension was decided.
He said the exclusion ”robbed Mpofu of the right to participate fully” in this meeting. Tsoka said the meeting ”fell foul” of provisions in the Act stipulating the correct procedure for the convening of such a meeting.
Mpofu was suspended on full pay in the first week of May, a day after he suspended Snuki Zikalala, SABC group executive of news and current affairs.
Mpofu was expected to address the media outside the court.
On Friday, Advocate Tim Bruinders, representing the SABC board, argued before the court that Mpofu’s application should be turned down because there was no urgency in the matter.
But the judge interrupted Bruinders to ask him why the board felt it necessary to suspend Mpofu at 1.40am.
”It seems … the applicant [Mpofu] should be given an inherent right to dignity,” the judge said. ”Couldn’t they have waited until he arrived at work the next day?” – Sapa