Icasa forced into talks after strike
SANDTON – The Icasa offices saw numerous groups protesting and demanding answers for complaints regarding the SABC and employees' salaries.
The Sandton offices of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) were abuzz with frustrated employees and members of free-speech organisations during a strike on 7 July, forcing the organisation’s council to deliberate on various demands made by the striking entities.
The strike saw employees of Icasa and its affiliates gathering outside Icasa offices. The employees have expressed disapproval towards new employment policies Icasa has implemented such as the scrapping of salary increases, which will be replaced by a ‘variable allowance’.
Icasa employee and protester, Susan Mashinini said, “We are striking against the unilateral implementation of policies at Icasa concerning salaries, including the inclusion of a variable allowance which will take over salary increases and which has not been explained to them. They are also against the intimidation expressed towards employees.”
Mashinini added that the protesters will not leave until their demands have been met.
The communication authority’s employees were joined by members of the SOS Coalition and the Freedom of Expression Institute who, along with giving support to their cause, attended to wait for an answer to a complaint lodged against the editorial policies implemented at the SABC by chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
The various organisations waited patiently outside the building, while Icasa’s council deliberated on the complaints brought forward. In the end, acting chairperson of Icasa, Rubben Mohlaloga said that the organisation will need more time to figure out how to meet the demands of the employees.
Read more:
Protest at ICASA building in Sandton
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