Four South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalists‚ axed last week for allegedly breaching the terms of their employment contracts‚ have been reinstated.

This emerged at the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Trade union Solidarity and the four – Foeta Krige‚ Suna Venter‚ Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp – had asked the court to set aside their dismissal notices in an urgent application last week.

Advocate for the four‚ Steven Budlender‚ argued that the dismissals were unlawful and that the SABC had bullied the journalists.

The four had raised objections to the broadcaster’s decision to ban footage of violent protests on its news outlets.

Themba Skosana SC‚ for the SABC‚ had said‚ however‚ that there was a contract of employment which prohibited certain conduct by employees. He said the journalists had breached those conditions.

The Labour Court has now ordered that the journalists be allowed to return to work. The SABC is interdicted from proceeding with any further disciplinary action against the journalists.

The SABC has five days to convince the court that it should not be held liable for the costs of the journalists’ application.