Human resources failed victims, says commission

The human resource department of the SABC failed to follow procedures outlined in the corporation’s policy on sexual harassment as well as the code of good practice of the Employment Equity Act, the commission of inquiry into sexual harassment has found.

While the commission, headed by retired social worker Barbara Watson, congratulated the public broadcaster for instituting the inquiry, it said recommendations for each case should be implemented expeditiously “for there to be justice”.

The inquiry observed that most complainants were currently unemployed.

They had no medical aid to access counselling – a service they all required.

It also found that all but two of the complainants were freelancers.

“The appointment and dismissal of this important cohort called freelancers is vested in line managers and appears to have been used for personal gain by the perpetrators.

“This is an area of high risk for litigation, financial loss and reputational damage,” said the commission.

Individual cases required reopening “to ensure appropriate responses in line with SABC policies and the Code of the Employment Equity Act”.