SABC 8 turn to Labour Court

The journalists were fired this week for speaking out against the SABC's editorial decision to ban the airing of violent protests on TV news bulletins.

The decision by SABC Chief Operations Officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, was widely condemned and despite initial defiance, the SABC backed down yesterday in the Pretoria High Court.

By agreement of parties, the public broadcaster was interdicted from implementing or enforcing its decision to ban the showing of protest footage.

The interdict also emboldens the unions representing the sacked workers.

Hannes du Buisson of the trade union Bemawu represents journalists, Busisiwe Ntuli and Lukhanyo Calata, son of slain Cradock struggle hero Fort Calata.

"The ruling which is not only a ruling was an agreement were the SABC agreed to all of these things that they themselves implemented and disagreed with initially.

"Its exactly why this has been quiet in the first place. They [the journalists] questioned it and that is why they had been dismissed so this will most definitely have an impact" he said.

But, SABC spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, says the court interdict has nothing do with the dismissals.

"The suspensions have got nothing to do with this particular issue. The fact that we are terminated their employment, its an employer/employee issue its got nothing to do with what was going on" he said.