South African Broadcasting Corporation chief executive Solly Mokoetle has decided to challenge his suspension through arbitration.

Mokoetle, who was suspended last Friday by the SABC board, filed papers at the Arbitration Federation of South Africa (Afsa) yesterday, asking for his matter to be heard urgently.

Mokoetle has received the support of SABC staff and the ANC's military veterans wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.

His attorney, Jurgens Dekker, told The Times that Mokoetke's application was based on unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

Mokoetle's contract with the SABC was from January 1 and valid for another five years.

Dekker said Afsa agreed the case had to be treated as urgent. ''I believe that my client was unfairly treated, and that the SABC breached its agreement with him when the board suspended him."

Dekker said that Afsa was contacting the SABC to prepare its case for arbitration.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said yesterday he was not aware that Mokoetle had filed papers.