Inquiry into sexual harassment at SABC
HR and management found to be complicit in the violation of complainants’ rights
AN inquiry by a commission appointed to investigate allegations of sexual harassment at the SABC found that management and unions trivialised complaints, with the human resources (HR) department ignoring the corporation’s sexual harassment policy.
The commission comprised experts in gender, law, social work and counselling. It received 40 submissions and interviewed 11 perpetrators for 10 cases. At least 25 SABC managers were interviewed.
Commissioner Mfanozwele Shozi said SABC managers covered up for perpetrators, leading to the victimisation of complainants, who were forced to work alongside their perpetrators. The complainants ended up leaving the SABC because of pressure and inefficiencies by management, he said.
“The cases were badly handled by HR. They would not follow policy, but (opted) to address issues through talking. Complainants said they would be told, ‘Don’t worry, it happened before, you will be alright’,” Shozi said.
All cases of sexual harassment were by women against men, who were mostly their line managers. The names of complainants and perpetrators were withheld to allow the SABC to implement the report’s recommendations.
In one case, a complainant and her husband both worked at the SABC. She turned down her line manager’s sexual advances and laid a complaint with HR. The manager remained persistent even when the woman told him she was married, said Shozi.
“The manager once sent her a picture of a gun, telling her he was once a soldier. At one point she fainted at work and was taken to hospital. She resigned as this became too stressful and toxic. Her husband ended up resigning from the SABC too.”
The couple ended up divorcing as a result. She took her case to the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and to the Labour Court.
“The manager was arrogant and refused to appear before us. He even approached his union in his quest to not give us answers. He then asked us to send him the allegations before he said anything… he has never accounted for his behaviour. We recommend that the SABC immediately suspend him and investigate this matter,” said Shozi.
Commission chairperson Barbara Watson said sexual harassment was costly and could not be taken lightly.
“This couple divorced... that is the tragedy of this case. Of all the cases that were reported, no perpetrator was suspended or fired.”
She said the HR department showed a lack of ability to execute its own policies. It lacked knowledge on gender relations and issues of power relations between men and women, and had been complicit in the violation of the rights of complainants.
“Most of the cases were older than five years, yet complainants still carried the pain and hoped that one day they would see justice done. Some were still battling to cope emotionally… and expressed joy at having approached the commission, which they saw as independent and credible.”
The internal investigation got submissions from all provinces except the Western Cape.