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SABC employees were locked in a heated meeting with management Tuesday about the planned layoffs of up to 400 workers, with reports that TV hosts may refuse to go on the air.
The showdown with management comes after employees embarked on pickets at lunchtime due to impending job cuts by the financially challenged public broadcaster.
The station’s 24-hour news channel showed images of employees locked in a meeting with management, which was called after more workers received layoff letters. The workers are also calling on management to resign, accusing them of “decimating Africa’s largest newsroom” by introducing a new structure without consultation.
Management, however, says it has exceeded the prescribed minimum consultation requirements.
Host Thabiso Sithole confirmed on air that employees could leave and refuse to work.
On Tuesday afternoon, normal programming on the news channel was largely devoted to broadcasting the memorial service for later Auditor General Kimi Makwetu, with frequent crossovers to a staff meeting.
Later, the executive of SABC Group: News and Updates, Phathiswa Magopeni, announced that the dismissal letters sent to the staff would be reversed.
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