Court ruling against protest footage policy renders SABC firings unlawful: Solidarity

Trade union Solidarity is confident that Wednesday’s urgent interdict against the South African Boradcasting Corporation (SABC)‚ barring it from implementing its “censorship policy”‚ will strengthen its case in the Labour Court on Thursday.

Solidarity will ask that court to set aside the SABC’s decision to dismiss journalists Foeta Krige‚ Suna Venter‚ Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp.

The journalists were dismissed on Monday via email. The SABC had initiated disciplinary processes against them last month for challenging the broadcaster’s controversial violent protest footage ban.

SABC stands by its decision to dismiss eight journalists

Four other journalists‚ not represented by Solidarity‚ were also dismissed this week.

“The ultimate reason for dismissal was that it was common knowledge that the journalists did not respect the SABC management‚” said Solidarity head Dr Dirk Hermann.

The Helen Suzman Foundation was on Wednesday granted an urgent interdict in the Pretoria High Court against the SABC‚ barring it from implementing its censorship policy.

Hermann said Wednesday’s interdict confirmed that the SABC’s actions were out of line and strengthened its case.

Hermann said the SABC’s violent protest footage ban is unlawful‚ adding that any decision stemming from the SABC’s ban on airing footage of violent protests‚ like the disciplinary action and subsequent dismissal of its journalists‚ was therefore unlawful.

Hermann said Solidarity expects the SABC to ask the court for a postponement‚ which it will oppose. – TMG Digital