Solidarity wants to approach Constitutional Court on SABC censorship 

4 July 2016  

Trade union Solidarity said today that it would approach the Constitutional Court to dispute the constitutionality of the suspension of three SABC journalists. This follows after the SABC has failed to adhere to Solidarity’s request to revoke the suspension of Foeta Krige, executive director of Monitor and Spektrum, journalist Suna Venter, and business editor, Thandeka Gqubule.

According to Solidarity Deputy General Secretary Johan Kruger, the trade union will approach the Constitutional Court directly as the suspension of the journalists will, among other things, infringe on their constitutional right to freedom of expression, as well as on the public’s constitutional right of access to information.

“We believe the case is of public interest. Therefore, it is imperative that we should obtain access to the Constitutional Court before the elections in order to ensure that the public has access to the necessary information to be able to make an informed choice,” Kruger said.

Solidarity is planning to lodge an urgent formal application to the Constitutional Court later this week. Solidarity will also meet with the Freedom of Expression Institute soon to investigate the possibilities of cooperation for such an application.

Krige, Venter and Gqubule were suspended in June after voicing their objections against instructions at a press meeting not to report on protests of the Right2Know campaign against SABC censorship. Solidarity is representing all three journalists. 

Issued by Johan Kruger, Deputy Chief Executive, Solidarity, 4 July 2016