SABC is mum over suspended employees

The move comes after it indefinitely halted disciplinary hearings against several staff members suspended last month.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said yesterday he did not understand why the broadcaster was expected to operate differently when it came to its disciplinary processes.

"The SABC is an employer just like any other organisation. We do not discuss employer-employee matters in the public space or to third parties," he said.

Kganyago was speaking after trade union Solidarity said yesterday that disciplinary proceedings against Thandeka Gqubule, Foeta Krige and Suna Venter had been "postponed indefinitely".

The three were suspended after they questioned a decision by the SABC not to show footage of violent protests.

Another charge was for questioning why staff were forbidden from reporting on a protest outside the SABC's Auckland Park offices over a directive by its chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, not to show violent protests.

On the decision to suspend disciplinary proceedings, Solidarity's deputy CEO, Johan Kruger, said it was unclear why proceedings had been postponed.

Kruger said the union still planned to put pressure on the broadcaster.

"We will, today, serve labour court papers on the SABC to have the suspension of the journalists withdrawn.

"This week, we will file an application for direct access to the Constitutional Court to adjudicate on the lawfulness of censorship of this kind at the broadcaster."

Source: The Times