Non-commensurate pay a reason SABC must retrench – HR chief

Irregular salary increases for SABC staff in the past was part of the reason the public broadcaster now felt compelled to retrench hundreds of employees, the company’s human resources (HR) chief told MPs yesterday.

Jonathan Thekiso told parliament’s portfolio committee on communication that there had been a number of unlawful and irregular increases ... where employees’ skills “did not connect with their remuneration”.

The SABC has handed the matter of the retrenchment of 981 employees to the Council for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

It hoped negotiations would be concluded in January and retrenchment notices served from February. Severance packages would cost R171 million.

Chief executive Madoda Mxakwe said if the SABC failed to reduce its staff component it would be factually insolvent by March. “... our losses will be R803 million.”

He added the broadcaster would be able to pay salaries in January but feared that by February this would be doubtful.

The SABC has 3 380 employees and 1 200 freelancers whose cost to the company is just over R500 million, Mxakwe said.

The retrenchment plans have met with opposition from labour and political parties, with the ANC appealing to the broadcaster to reconsider. The DA has argued the company needs an independent skills audit. – ANA