Monday, July 30, 2012

Judgement coming soon from labour court over SABC's unfair dismissal of its international news editor, Motlenyane Diphoko.

Judgement is coming soon from the Johannesburg Labour Court on the protracted battle between the SABC and its former editor of international news, Motlenyane Diphoko, who claims he was "simply fired".

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has already ruled that Motlenyane Diphoko's dismissal was "substantially and procedurally unfair".

The SABC which didn't agree with the CCMA's ruling, took the case to the Johannesburg Labour Court, which will now be ruling on the case and the CCMA findings. According to the SABC, Motlenyane Diphoko was dismissed over alleged "wasteful and fruitless expenditure" which resulted in financial loss to the South African public broadcaster.

The SABC charged that Motlenyane Diphoko authorised payments to independent contractors without checking and verifying their claims of services and work rendered. He was given the option to be demoted to a position of a producer, but refused and was fired.