Hlaudi will ignore Icasa ruling - Solidarity
12 July 2016
Cape Town - The trade union representing eight journalists who were either charged or suspended by the SABC expects COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng to ignore Icasa's ruling that the broadcaster remove its ban on broadcasting protests.
Icasa on Monday ordered that the SABC withdraw its decision to not air footage of violent protests, after a public hearing was held on June 24 following complaints from a number of civil bodies last month.
Chief Executive for Solidarity trade union Dirk Hermann told News24 on Monday that they were realistic about the chances of the SABC unilaterally accepting Icasa’s order.
“We were not surprised by the Icasa ruling because everyone knew what was happening at the SABC," he said.
“Our concern is that the SABC ignored the principles [of non-censorship] and we expect them to ignore the ruling.
“They want to buy time to protect specific interests ahead of the upcoming elections.”
The union is representing eight SABC journalists who have either been suspended or are facing disciplinary proceedings.
Hermann said they are preparing to file a Labour Court interdict to ask for all disciplinary proceedings to be stayed until all legal challenges against the SABC are finalized.
“Pending all of these, the disciplinary proceedings must be stayed and the workers must go back to work,” Hermann added.
'No one is going to tell us what to do'
Motsoeneng meanwhile has vowed to “deal with” any employee disloyal to the public broadcaster, News24 reported on Monday.
This would be carried out through “Operation Clean Up”, he told reporters at the SABC’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday.
“We have realized that there are forces outside. They want to destabilise the organisation and also use internal people within the organisation and we are going to deal with them, especially with the people within the organisation.”
“We are not going to let anyone dictate to this organisation. We are here to lead. The reason why we are here is to lead and we are leading.
“No one is going to tell us what to do."
This article first appeared on News24, see here.
