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NEWS
The SABC board is ready to challenge ministers and move forward with its planned cuts early in the new year.
This week, Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and Labor Minister Thulas Nxesi told the board to halt staff reductions and seek alternative cost-cutting measures.
The briefing took place during a virtual meeting between SABC management, the board and the two ministers on Monday.
“[Ndabeni-Abrahams] it has not offered solutions to the current problems at SABC, ”said a board member who asked not to be named.
There are 97 positions that the organization has identified as part of the section 197 business process outsourcing initiatives.
Head of Human Resources at SABC Mojaki Mosia
The instruction, which the board intends to challenge, comes as the public broadcaster faces huge cash flow problems, and its salary expense represents just over half of its monthly revenue targets.
“As it is, the SABC cannot afford to pay wages beyond March if it fails to cut 400 workers.
“As members of the board, we have to make decisions that are in the best interest of SABC or we could face action for failure to exercise our fiduciary duties. Forget the politicians and their instructions, ”the board member told City Press.
On Friday, the SABC and the unions clashed in labor court as the battle over impending layoffs continued.
The SABC and the Union of Broadcasting, Electronics, Media and Allied Workers have held 16 meetings since July, but have failed to find common ground.
SABC’s head of human resources, Mojaki Mosia, released an affidavit in which he said they had taken into account all the unions’ proposals to avoid job cuts.
Read: ‘We are ready to enter the battlefield,’ say unions from stalled SABC process 189
The proposals included salary cuts in various job categories, reversal of salary increases granted earlier this year and freezing of annual salary increases.
“Having applied the principles and guidelines when considering the proposals, the SABC considered all options to minimize the total number of affected employees and was able to reduce the total number of affected people to approximately 400 employees, which is significantly less than the original projected figure of 600.
“Additionally, there are approximately 170 job openings that will be available for employees to apply for, providing the potential to further reduce the number of affected employees to 230.
“In addition, there are 97 positions that the organization has identified as part of the section 197 business process outsourcing initiatives,” Mosia said.
SABC cannot afford to pay wages beyond March if it fails to cut 400 workers.
Board member
He added that “although these proposals are progressive, not all of them addressed the issue of redundancy and the transition to the new operating model. [Redundant jobs] they are inherent contributors to an unsustainable payroll bill and an inhibitor to investing more in our much-needed content. “
This is the second time in less than 24 months that the SABC’s attempt to cut its wage spending has met with political resistance.
In July, City Press reported that cash-strapped heads of the public broadcaster met with ANC bosses at Luthuli House and were questioned about the plan to lay off 600 full-time employees and terminate the contracts of 1,200 employees. independent.
Read: ANC warns SABC not to cut jobs because it will embarrass the party, cost it votes during elections
The ruling party reportedly warned the broadcaster that its decision to lay off employees would embarrass it and could cost it votes in next year’s local elections.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe confirmed that the meeting took place, but said the SABC approached the party and not the other way around.
At that meeting, the ANC was represented by Under Secretary General Jessie Duarte, Deputy Minister for Communications Pinky Kekana and the First Under Secretary General of the Communist Party of South Africa, Solly Mapaila.
Earlier this year the SABC obtained a government bailout on the condition of cutting costs, but now faces opposition from ANC leaders.
SABC insiders say the corporation would need an estimated R1 billion annual injection from the state to maintain its salary bill if it does not proceed with the staff cuts.
The curtailment talks, facilitated by the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission, began on Wednesday but have been postponed until the middle of next month.
A SABC skills audit report that was shared with ANC leadership painted a mixed picture of the state of the broadcaster’s skill levels.
The report revealed that almost 800 employees did not match their job profile qualifications.
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