The IFP has welcomed today’s ruling of the Labour Court handed down by Judge Andre van Niekerk, in which he has instructed that four dismissed SABC journalists, who spoke against censorship at the SABC, should be re-instated without delay.
Moreover, we applaud the ground-breaking precedent that has been set, that SABC’s bosses may be personally held liable for costs incurred for such cases. This is long overdue.
The IFP is indeed of the opinion that the leadership of the SABC and the Board should be held personally liable for wasting the SABC’s scarce resources by acting in a manner that flouted the laws of the country, in handling the matter of the axed SABC journalists. Their actions can only be described as frivolous and reckless.
Today’s ruling is not only a victory for the four journalists, but a victory for the rule of law in South Africa, the journalism fraternity and press freedom in South Africa in general.
Furthermore, we believes that today’s ruling will be a significant step towards ensuring that the SABC will never again embark on any process that infringes on the rights of journalists to do their jobs without fear or favour and in an impartial and balanced manner.
The IFP looks forward to the remainder of the #SABC8 being reinstated on Thursday.
Contact:
Ms Liezl van der Merwe, MP
082 729 2510.
