Job cuts at the SABC suspended

The board of the SABC has said that the envisaged job cuts and retrenchments at the public broadcaster will not go ahead at the moment.

Unions protested last year and handed over a memorandum of demands to the SABC’s Group CEO Madoda Mxakwe, giving the broadcaster seven days to reverse the decision to retrench employees.

Faced with bloated staff numbers, a high wage bill and the consequences of the millions of rand squandered during Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s tenure as chief operating officer, the cash-strapped SABC announced last year plans to retrench about 1,000 staff and 1,200 freelancers.

Business Day reports that the broadcaster’s spokesperson, Neo Momodu, said that the retrenchment process had been placed on hold.

Momodu said the broadcaster had communicated with staff and unions at the end of last year that the planned retrenchments were to be held in abeyance.

“The SABC’s dire financial situation is a matter of public record. Monies owed to creditors are steadily climbing, however, the SABC has worked out a payment plan in consultation with the relevant creditors for the outstanding payments.

“The SABC management continues to discuss its financial sustainability and related issues with the relevant stakeholders, and is working to find a solution for the benefit of the SABC, its employees and the SA public,” Momodu was quoted as saying.

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