Seven of the axed SABC journalists have reported back to work after the public broadcaster said it would no longer proceed with any further legal action.
Lukhanyo Calata reported back to work in Cape Town yesterday, while his colleagues Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Krivani Pillay, Busisiwe Ntuli, Thandeka Gqubule and Jacques Steenkamp are back on the job in Johannesburg.
They were fired after they had criticised the SABC’s policy to not air footage of violent protests.
Meanwhile, veteran news anchor and contributing editor Vuyo Mvoko’s case was postponed in the Johannesburg High Court yesterday.
Mvoko consulted with his lawyers following their meeting with the judge and SABC counsel.
The SABC reportedly offered Mvoko his job back if he retracted “adverse” statements he had made in the media. Mvoko rejected the offer and the case was postponed to August 2.
Mvoko, a contract worker, has applied to the court for the enforcement of his contract after the SABC said he would no longer be used to produce programmes until their dispute was settled.
Mvoko had criticised SABC Chief Operations Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, former Group Chief Executive Jimi Matthews and former News Head Snuki Zikalala “for their perversion of the SABC’s mission”.
“The SABC’s mission is to inform, not censor,” Mvoko’s lawyers said in their heads of argument.