The staffers are now in limbo, as the news channel is no longer operational and the premises lay empty.
The Labour Court ordered controversial media owner, Mzwanele Manyi to reinstate workers from Afro Worldview, with immediate effect.
The court ruled that Manyi’s Infinity Networks Media disregarded the law when it fired staff members.
“The first respondent’s [Infinity Networks Media] conduct in failing to engage in retrenchment consultation process, while having contemplated dismissing its employees for operational requirements, is in breach of the provision of section 189 and 189A of the Labour Relations act,” ruled the court.
“The first respondents is ordered to reinstate those of the second respondents [Afro Worldview] with whom it has terminated its employment relationship with immediate effect until it has complied with a fair consultation process in terms of section 189 and section 189A of the Labour Relations Act.”
The Communication Workers’ Union, which took the matter to court, welcomed the ruling.
“We are very happy that the court has reinstated the workers and said they will have to be paid until today. Afro Worldview attempted to flout the labour act by dismissing workers and paying them a month’s salary”, said general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala.
Broadcasting giant Multichoice pulled the plug on the news channel on 20 August 2018.
It was rebranded from ANN7 in April 2018, in an attempt to distance itself from its scandal-ridden reputation. The channel, previously owned by the Guptas, has been accused of having been used to spread misinformation on former President Jacob Zuma’s critics.
Multichoice had announced, in the beginning of the year, that it would not be renewing its contract with the channel.
Thabo Baloyi
t.baloyi@politicalanalysis.co.za