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In a significant victory for persecuted SABC staff and the fight to reclaim the public broadcaster, the Labour Court has ruled in favour of four of the journalists who were unlawfully dismissed.

Judge Robert Le Grange has said that Krivani Pillay, Suna Venter, Foeta Krige and Jacques Steenkamp are entitled to return to work. The judgement also states that the SABC is interdicted from proceeding with the the disciplinary hearings initiated against the journalists prior to their dismissals. Furthermore, in an unusually strong order, the two senior managers who signed off on the dismissals must file affidavits showing why they should not be held personally liable for the costs of the court application.

This firm judgement is another stunning vindication for those who have sided with the dismissed journalists and the cause of press freedom. It is another blow for the incompetent board and the cabal around COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng who have instilled a climate of fear and intimidation at the SABC.

Nevertheless, this is only a victory in a much larger battle. The cases of the other dismissed journalists are pending, though we expect a similarly positive outcome and will be watching those legal processes closely. The cases include ​senior Parliamentary reporter, Lukhanyo ​Calata and Special Assignment executive producer, Busi Ntuli​'s hearing that will be heard in the Labour court in Johannesburg on Thursday. The four journalists who won today will be returning to a work environment that is like a political pressure cooker. Their struggle and the struggle for the soul of the SABC will continue as long as the stifling work conditions persist and as long as the ham-fisted rule of the political lackeys in upper management and the board remains the order of the day.

We need a radical response to the prevailing status quo at the SABC to ensure that the broadcaster is insulated from political interference and becomes a place that is conducive to good journalism. The SABC has a mandate, as the public broadcaster, to provide an enabling environment for journalists to go about their work without fear of losing their jobs for not self-censoring or for failing to toe a certain political line.

Issued by R2K