Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Motsoeneng faces R3m lawsuit but vows to fight on
FORMER SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng faces a R3 million lawsuit from the SABC 8 journalists, but he has vowed to fight them “until the end”.
After the Labour Court ruling yesterday, Solidarity, which represented Foeta Krige, the late Suna Venter, Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp, said they would now make a legal claim of R1 million against Motsoeneng following the court ruling. Bemawu, which represented Busisiwe Ntuli, Lukhanyo Calata and Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki will sue for R2 million.
Solidarity spokesperson Anton van der Bijl said they would lodge their legal claim against Motsoeneng, adding he was responsible for the SABC banning the showing of violent scenes on all the public broadcaster’s platforms.
“He was a decision-maker,” Van der Bijl said.
Hannes du Buissson, Bemawu president, appeared more cautious, saying their legal claim would be lodged against the SABC, Motsoeneng and chief executive news and current affairs Simon Tebele.
But the shocked Motsoeneng would have none of it.
“It is the beginning of the battle against me. This was a politically motivated case.”
He made the comments after Judge David Gush, of the Labour Court in Joburg, held him liable for costs of the legal application lodged by the SABC 8 against their dismissals.
Initially, in July last year, the SABC 8 journalists were represented by two sets of trade unions, Solidarity and Bemawu, but the court consolidated them into one on February 24 this year.
Solidarity and Bemawu successfully lodged an application to make costs claims against the SABC, Motsoeneng and Tebele on March 28.
The arguments for costs were heard on Wednesday after the initial hearing on August 15 was postponed following the SABC’s decision to fire their lawyers.
During the costs hearing, Motsoeneng was confident that the court would absolve him from the claims on the grounds that he did not initiate disciplinary charges against the journalists.
He also said that he was not cited in all previous hearings involving the journalists and SABC, but the ruling yesterday also placed him at the centre of the dispute.
Motsoeneng, the SABC and Tebele were ordered to pay the costs.