Reporters ‘back at work soon’

TRADE union Solidarity is confident 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, and that is to inform the public.”

He spoke soon after Labour Court Judge Robert La Grange adjourned proceedings for the day following a lengthy hearing over the public broadcaster’s decision to dismiss eight journalists early this month.

The journalists had been charged with contravening their employment contracts after they spoke up about editorial policies at the state broadcaster, including chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s ban on showing images of vandalised state property during 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 said the SABC could not justify the sackings when the Independent Communications Authority of SA had declared the policy on protests unlawful.

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

The four journalists represented by Solidarity are Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp.

Other journalists have also sought legal counsel from their unions.

Budlender said the union wanted its members reinstated, and for the disciplinary steps against them to be revoked.

It also wanted the SABC to establish who was responsible for ordering the dismissals.

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that the journalists had received e-mails from the broadcaster informing them that their medical-aid cover had been cancelled.

Judgment in the matter has been reserved.