SABC journalists not back at work
Trade union Solidarity on Wednesday morning confirmed that the SABC will appeal yesterday's Labour Court ruling ordering the reinstatement of four dismissed journalists.
According to Solidarity's Dirk Hermann they are already preparing court papers and will submit it to the Labour Court today as a matter of urgency.
"This means that the four journalists will not return to work today as planned," Hermann told Jacaranda FM News.
He confirmed that the public broadcaster wrote to them, indicating that they will appeal Tuesday's judgement.
"We are very disappointed and it seems as if the SABC wants to continue to defend their unlawful actions," he said.
Hermann said they want the journalists to return to work as soon as possible.
"We want the journalists to return to work pending the SABC's appeal," he added.
ALSO READ: Dismissal of SABC journalists unlawful, court rules
Hermann said they will submit documents to the Labour Court today as a matter of urgency.
"The appeal will take place in the Labour Court but the appeal date is uncertain. The appeal could take anything from days, weeks and even months," he said.
Meanwhile the Save Our SABC organisation's Sekhokani Pamodi told Jacaranda FM News on Wednesday morning that the journalists have a right to return to work.
"The key factor is that the Labour Court has reinstated them, and even though the SABC plans to appeal the ruling, they have not done so, yet," Pamodi said.
He added that he was not sure what the reaction of the SABC would be if and when the journalists return to work.
"Perhaps the journalists will be marched out of the building or maybe they will be asked to leave but until the workers are served with papers indicating the SABC's intention to appeal, then only would they be required to leave the building," Pamodi said.
There has been no official word from the SABC.