Zikalala's suspension lifted

2008-07-07 20:02

Johannesburg - The suspension of the SABC's head of news, Snuki Zikalala, has been lifted with immediate effect, the national broadcaster reported on Monday.

However, this could not be confirmed by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), where Zikalala and the SABC board met on Monday.

Zikalala and the board would return to the CCMA in two weeks, said CCMA director Nerine Kahn.

They had agreed on a way of dealing with his case and the reasons for his suspension, she said, but she could not elaborate, explaining that the mediation process was confidential.

Kahn said the reasons for a suspension had to be dealt with. A person could not be unconditionally reinstated.

Mpofu also suspended

SABC group chief executive Dali Mpofu suspended Zikalala on May 6, accusing him of leaking confidential documents.

The board has claimed that Mpofu did not have the authority to suspend Zikalala.

Mpofu was himself suspended by the board the next day, and when his suspension was overturned by the courts, he was suspended again.

He returns to Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday to challenge his latest suspension.

The SABC reported on Monday that the CCMA had been asked to conduct an independent fact-finding mission into whether there were grounds to suspend Zikalala, who was on special leave and would return to work within two weeks.

Zikalala could not be reached for comment.

- SAPA