Following the sacking of four journalists at the SABC last night, it has been confirmed that two more journalists have been fired today.
According to William Bird, director of Media Monitoring Africa, Busisiwe Ntuli and Lukhanyo Calata were fired this morning. “They received the same letter of termination as the others,” said Bird. He said that as advised by their lawyers, this is illegal and an act of vengeance and malice.
However, more information has now emerged that a total of eight journalists have actually received letters terminating their employment, including Vuyo Mvoko and Thandeka Gqubule.
Last night at about 7pm, the dismissal spree started and it was confirmed by Anton van der Bijl, who is currently representing Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Jacques Steenkamp and Krivani Pillay, the four journalists who were fired last night in the Labour Court.
Van der Bijl added that the SABC did not explain to the Labour Court the reason for the journalist’s dismissal, except that they did not respond to certain calls from the SABC.
Spokesperson of the SABC, Kaizer Kganyago commented and said that the SABC is not dealing with the people in question as journalists but as employees. He confirmed that the journalists were fired but did not confirm the number of journalists. “All of the people that were involved were sent the letter,” he said. He said that some of them are not full-time employees of the SABC but contract workers.
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