/ 21 July 2016

Four of the #SABC8 are challenging their dismissal in the Labour Court

Four Of The #sabc8 Are Challenging Their Dismissal In The Labour Court

Four of the eight journalists, who were suspended and sacked by South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for opposing its ban on broadcast of violent protests in which state property was destroyed, are challenging their dismissals in the Labour Court in Johannesburg. 

Proceedings began on Thursday but have been postponed to Friday after the SABC failed to file the necessary papers.

The journalists, who earlier launched an urgent Constitutional Court application over their suspensions, will also seek payment for their legal fees.

On Monday, the SABC sent termination letters were sent to Jacques Steenkamp, Krivani Pillay, Suna Venter, and Foeta Krige for what the broadcaster has described as behaviour that undermines the conduct of the public broadcaster.

Trade union Solidarity said it would request the Labour Court to set aside the decision to dismiss the SABC journalists and to revoke the disciplinary process in its entirety pending the rulings given in the legal processes.

The union was referring to an application by eight suspended SABC journalists for direct access to the Constitutional Court to declare unlawful the broadcaster’s decision to not air footage of violent protest action.

The journalists were suspended after they spoke publicly against the SABC ban, which they described as “censorship”.

Political parties, including the ruling African National Congress, civil and rights bodies have all condemned the SABC unilateral ban.

On Wednesday, the SABC made significant concessions as the High Court in Pretoria presided over an application for an urgent interdict against “censorship” at the public broadcaster.

The Helen Suzman Foundation secured an interdict after the SABC, during a morning of negotiations, decided not to contest but simply to insist on recognition that it retained editorial independence, though this must be exercised in line with the Constitution.

The SABC, which initially said it was also taking on review an order by the Independent Communications Authority of SA for the broadcaster to withdraw the decision to stop airing violent protests, had now agreed to the ruling.