e.tv boss court application fails - as it happened

Good read in sister publication City Press on Boardroom bust-ups

Judge didn't want to attribute costs because he said it would deteriorate the relationship between Golding and HCI further.

Judge: Applicant is unsuccessful. Application is dismissed and costs are not being handed out.

Judge: Shares concern that hearing will be chaired by HCI's lawyer Pretorius - it would have been better to get an objective chair. Should applicant show bias he can get him to recuse himself at hearing.

Judge: Golding is not suffering financial harm. He has not shown why this court should intervene. Applicant does not have right to have position restored to him. 

In other HCI news, the company advised shareholders that Ms B.A. Hogan has resigned as a director of HCI and member of the audit committee with immediate effect. We note the resignation of Barbara Hogan from our board and express our somewhat surprise at the hostile manner in which it is couched and publicly distributed. We thank Barbara for her services to HCI and assure the public that, perhaps other than Marcel himself, no other board members of HCI see this matter similarly.

Judge: Golding was no given opportunity to give representations before he was suspended which was unfair.

Judge: Golding allegation of unfair suspension may hold water.

Judge: No prima facie case to show disciplinary is unlawful

Judge: Golding's allegations of influence from govt are serious but the disciplinary hearing has no bearing on this.

Judge: Golding is an employee of HCI and they have full right to discipline him.

HCI share price down 0.2% at R149.70 in early trade on JSE.

Judge: Golding participated in share deal with HCI which is only open to employees.

Judge Steenkamp: HCI has attached Payslip showing they pay him and not Sabido or e.tv.

Judge: Not enough evidence that HCI controls e.tv, but the evidence shows that Sabido and e.tv are subsidiaries of HCI. 

Judge must decide who's Golding's real employer.

Golding held an office at HCI recently.

Judge: Golding sense of urgency was self created as he took too long to give HCI papers with only 4 hrs to reply.

Golding not in court for judgment.

Court ion session. Judge outlining the key aspects of Golding's concerns. 

Shaik is at court as a respondent for Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) in his position as executive director, after Golding brought the urgent application to set aside his suspension as HCI chairperson. His suspension would have dire consequences for him as CEO of Sabido and e.tv, which HCI has a 63% share in.

Long-time friend of Marcel Golding, Yunis Schaik, at court. No sign yet of Marcel Golding.

Fin24's Matthew le Cordeur is at court to report on Marcel Golding / HCI saga 

Cape Town - The suspended e.tv boss Marcel Golding is back at court on Monday to hear whether his urgent application to have his suspension as chairperson of Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) [JSE:HCI] overturned, was successful.

Golding brought the urgent application on Friday, stating that his suspension is the result of government political interference in news coverage on e.tv's eNews and eNCA (DStv 403).

The application came ahead of his disciplinary hearing scheduled for Monday. Should his application be unsuccessful, he will immediately proceed to his disciplinary hearing at HCI.

Golding alleges in filed court papers to block his suspension last week, that his suspension is partially the result of behind-the-scenes corporate and political infighting in which HCI's TV channel e.tv and its news division eNews and 24-TV news channel eNCA on DStv were pressured to cover positive ANC news.