Today a gold-star day for media and workers’ freedoms as Labour Court finds in favour of unlawfully dismissed SABC Workers

In another landslide victory for the soul of the SABC, the Labour Court, today, found in favour of four of the SABC 8. In the robust judgment handed down by Lagrange J, the Labour Court ordered that:

1. The application to hear the matter on an urgent basis, is upheld;
2. The SABC’s summary dismissal of four of the five applicants are unlawful and void;
3. The summarily dismissed four of the SABC 8 are entitled to return to work and continue with their respective duties and responsibilities in accordance with their job descriptions;
4. The SABC is interdicted from proceeding with the disciplinary proceedings initiated against four of the SABC 8 prior to their dismissal;
5. The SABC and, in particular, General Manager: Radio News and Current Affairs, Sebolelo Dithakanane and Acting Group Executive: News and Current Affairs, Simon Tebele, must show cause as to why they should not be held personally liable for the costs of this case within five days.

The SOS Coalition is thrilled with this outcome, marking it as a corner-stone judgment for the escalating national campaign to rescue the SABC from the corrosive atmosphere of self-censorship and rule by diktat established and enforced by Hlaudi Motsoeneng and his political and commercial masters.

Legal proceedings for the remaining three of the SABC 8 is expected to continue in the Labour Court on Thursday,and we stand firmly behind these workers too, and their bravery in standing up for media and workers’ freedoms.

The road ahead is still long and rocky, but the corner-stone principles of our constitutional democracy will prevail.