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Solidarity and BEMAWU: #SABC finally did the right thing

The trade unions representing the seven previously dismissed and now reinstated journalists have expressed their delight at the SABC’s decision to allow them all back at work and drop legal action.

The public broadcaster announced late this afternoon that Suna Venter, Foeta Krige, Lukhanyo Calata, Busisiwe Ntuli, Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp have all been reinstated and instructed its legal team not to pursue any further legal action.

Hannes du Buisson, the spokesperson for BEMAWU, which is representing Calata, Gqubule and Ntuli, told htxt.africa that it was absolutely delighted with the decision.

“For once they are doing the right thing,” du Buisson said.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed, the fact of the matter is, it’s the right thing to do, we think it’s a victory not only for the journalists, but constitutional principles,” Solidarity CEO, Dirk Hermann said.

“The SABC had until four o’clock [today to reinstate the journalists] otherwise, we would’ve continued with our application at the Labour Court for an order to comply with the court’s judgement and for contempt of court. I think they’ve got good legal advice,” he added.

SABC must still incur legal costs for BEMAWU three

Although BEMAWU is happy with the decision, it’s still concerned about the legal costs incurred for its court application, which was meant to be heard yesterday.

du Buisson said the union is still in discussions with their lawyers to decide whether or not it will proceed with tomorrow’s hearing.

“We incurred a lot of costs for the matter to be brought before the court. They [SABC] can’t just simply reinstate them but don’t pay the costs. We may still go, even if we have to go for the sake of costs,” he said.

du Buisson added that BEMAWU would like either the SABC as a company or the individuals who fired the journalists to pay the legal costs.

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