The SABC on Friday instructed its lawyers to lodge an urgent appeal with the Constitutional Court against the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal which had ordered that the public broadcaster’s chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng be suspended and face disciplinary charges.

“The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has instructed its lawyers to lodge an urgent appeal with the Constitutional Court, in regards to the Judgement laid down by the Supreme Court of Appeal yesterday (Thursday),” SABC spokesperson Kaizer Khanyago said.

However, he said he could not at this stage say whether the SABC was appealing only the suspension or the order confirming the Western Cape High Court ruling that disciplinary charges be brought against him.

“At this stage we don’t want to explain what exactly we are appealing,” he told ANA, adding that this would only be made public once lawyers had filed papers with the court.

“The instruction was given today so I do not know whether they will have the time still today to file or whether that will happen on Monday.”

Khanyago confirmed that Motsoeneng was back at work on Friday.

The court had given the broadcaster a fortnight to start the disciplinary process.

“We have a fourteen-day window period to do anything. So now we are in the period. He is at work today,” he said.

The lengthy legal battle over Motsoeneng began when the Democratic Alliance went to court last year to challenge the broadcaster’s failure to implement Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s directive that he face disciplinary charges for abuse of power, maladministration and fraudulently misrepresenting his qualifications.

Instead, he was permanently appointed to the post he had previously occupied in an acting capacity.