Shock at axing of SABC staff
THE firing of at least seven SABC journalists, including SAfm’s current affairs executive producer, Krivani Pillay, has been met with shock and dismay by the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers Union.
Pillay, Radio Sonder Grense executive editor Foeta Krige, senior investigative journalist Jacques Steenkamp and senior journalist Suna Venter were given their marching orders on Monday, while Special Assignment executive producer Busisiwe Ntuli and parliamentary reporter Lukhanyo Calata, who led the Western Cape charge against apparent censorship at the public broadcaster, later also confirmed they had been dismissed with immediate effect, as has Thandeka Gqubule.
Earlier this month, Pillay, Steenkamp and Ntuli had written to the SABC’s chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, voicing their concern and seeking clarity on editorial policy decisions that have put their journalistic integrity in question.
The SABC is alleged to have put into place editorial policies that ban footage of violent protests, which many regard as blatant censorship.
Union representative Hannes du Buisson said the shock dismissals showed the extent the SABC went to, to censor news of the day and mislead viewers.
By firing the seven, the SABC had decided not to follow its disciplinary and procedure code, said Du Buisson. “They should have had an internal disciplinary hearing. However, with the current climate at the SABC, I don’t think any employee will get a fair hearing.”
Shocked
He added that staff were shocked by the decision taken: “The news was broken to them on Monday night by e-mail.”
He said last week an invitation was sent to them to appear less than 24 hours later in front of a disciplinary panel at the SABC. This was not fair because it was not in compliance with SABC procedures.
“Never, ever have we been given 24 hours notice. Normally, it is three to seven days to source representation. It is clear from the conduct of the SABC what their mindset is.”
He said the staff were then asked to respond to alleged misconduct via written correspondence. “By asking (them) for a letter, it shows there is no mediation or arbitration.”
Attorneys representing the axed SABC journalists have indicated that they would be taking the matter to the Labour Court as early as tomorrow (Thursday). The lawyers believe they have a strong case against the defiant broadcaster as the dismissals were viewed as inconsistent with the supreme law of the country.
Last week, lawyers representing eight suspended journalists at SABC applied for direct access to the Constitutional Court.
Attorney Anton van der Bijl, head of the labour court department at trade union Solidarity, said they were notified of the decision to fire the journalists on Monday. “We will apply to the Labour Court on Thursday that the dismissals be set aside. This is unheard of; such a decision can’t be made,” he said.
Solidarity had wanted the suspensions and disciplinary processes against journalists opposed to censorship at the broadcaster to be set aside, “pending the adjudication” by the Constitutional Court of the lawfulness of the SABC’s censorship instructions”.
Van der Bijl said they had tried to reason with the SABC, to no avail.
“We tried to keep the gloves on but the SABC seemed not keen on reaching an amicable solution. The gloves are now off.”
Speaking to Independent Media, one of the axed journalists said the SABC management had told them that their “continued acts of misconduct have become intolerable and our employment is thus terminated with immediate effect”.
If the eight journalists are granted direct access to the Concourt, the justices will have to determine whether the SABC’s editorial code, which has been widely criticised as unprocedural, is constitutional.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa had ordered the SABC to withdraw its decision to ban protest footage within seven calendar days, which expired on Monday.