Trade union Solidarity has urged South African Broadcasting Corporation COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng to lift the suspensions and disciplinary charges against six journalists and rescind his "censorship" order or face legal action, including in the Constitutional Court.
In a letter to Motsoeneng Solidarity – which is representing the six SABC journalists – asked him to confirm reports that the circumstances surrounding the suspensions would be reviewed.
"Should that be the case, Solidarity then requests that the suspensions be lifted officially and the charges [against] all six employees be withdrawn. Solidarity is also asking that the original censorship instruction be repealed," Solidarity chief executive Dirk Hermann said on Saturday.
Solidarity’s legal teams would not hold back preparations to contest the steps taken against Foeta Krige, Thandeka Gqubule, Suna Venter, Ms K Pillay, Ms MB Ntuli, and Mr J Steenkamp until charges against all six employees had been formally withdrawn.
“The SABC’s original censor instruction not to broadcast visual and sound material of violence during protests, however, lies at the core of the issue. This instruction is unlawful and undermines constitutional principles such as freedom of speech and the public’s right to information.
"Solidarity will continue with its legal action even if it has to take the matter all the way to the Constitutional Court to have the instruction invalidated. If we do not do this, journalists will always have to work under the sword of censorship,” Hermann said.
In the letter to Motsoeneng, the head of Solidarity’s Centre for Fair Labour Practices Anton van der Bijl said that while the alleged review of the suspensions was laudable, "we submit that fair labour practices would dictate that the suspensions be retracted in the interim while the suspensions are reviewed alternatively as a result of the review process".
"It is of the utmost importance that they [the six journalists] resume with their duties in order to ensure truthful and unbiased reporting on all matters, including any possible future protests, relating to the upcoming election [August 3 municipal elections].
"The truthful and transparent coverage of the elections in order to protect the integrity thereof is of the utmost importance. As the national broadcaster the SABC is tasked with ensuring that events are reported without fear or favour. The suspended employees play a vital role in ensuring that this happens," he said.
Accordingly, Solidarity demanded that Motsoeneng:
– confirm that he would review the suspensions of those suspended and unconditionally lift these;
– retract the charges against all six charged employees; and
– unconditionally retract the instruction pertaining to the provisions of the SABC editorial policy as well as the directive not to broadcast visuals/audio of destruction during protest action(s).
"Our rights remain reserved and we look forward to your urgent reply herein," Van der Bijl said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
