SABC wields axe despite objection

JOB CUTS: MINISTER ‘DOESN’T SUPPORT RETRENCHMENTS’

Restructuring will affect 400 employees instead of 600.

After consultations with stakeholders, the SABC announced yesterday it was ready to implement Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act. Acting SABC spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo said: “In carefully considering all proposals from organised labour and other stakeholders, it became clear that our organisation requires a difficult but necessary restructuring process that will result in the reduction of staff.”

The restructuring would affect about 400 employees instead of the initially projected 600.

This figure could be further reduced as about 170 vacant positions would be made available for employees to apply for which could potentially reduce the number of affected staff to 230.

“All affected employees will be offered a severance package of one week for each completed year of service.”

Seapolelo said for the remaining staff, salary increases were frozen for three years, annual and sick leave days were reduced and the cashing in of leave days was also discontinued.

Group chief executive officer Madoda Mxakwe said the retrenchments would prevent insolvency and reposition the SABC to achieve financial stability.

“An insolvent SABC serves no one, not our employees or the public, who rely on the SABC for transparent, fair and ethical public broadcasting services.

“These retrenchment are understandably very challenging. However, it is one part of our turnaround plan that will help to reposition the SABC,” Mxakwe said.

The decision to retrench staff was rejected by the Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in parliament on Wednesday. She said the public broadcaster did not follow steps in terms of the outlined turnaround strategy.

In a written response to the Economic Freedom Fighters, Ndabeni-Abrahams said the Labour Relations Act required retrenchment to be the last resort.

“At this stage, the [department] does not support the retrenchment of employees at the SABC.”

Salary increases frozen for three years