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The board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has suspended the downsizing process to allow all stakeholders to participate more.
In a statement issued in the early hours of Friday morning, the public broadcaster said the suspension would only last seven days.
“The SABC is committed to meaningful engagement with all of its stakeholders as it continues to make the corporation financially sustainable to fulfill its public mandate,” the public broadcaster said.
“We are aware of the socioeconomic effect that Section 189 will have on our staff and their families. We will do everything in our power to assist you during the process. For the new structure to be effective, we need the full support of all SABC staff. “
READ MORE: SABC staff reduction is ‘premature’, says parliament
The SABC said that staff salaries, which represent 43% of total spending, were not included in the government’s R3.2 billion bailout.
“We understand that staff have a vested interest in SABC’s well-being, but Section 189 is a necessary action to ensure profitability and sustainability. We cannot argue that the timing is not ideal and that conditions are severe, especially during these current challenging economic times, ”he said.
“To stay in business and fulfill our core mandate and keep our citizens informed, educated and entertained, Section 189 is a difficult but necessary path for SABC to take.”
The suspension of the layoffs comes after the unions gave the public broadcaster an ultimatum.
Communications Workers Union (CWU) President Clyde Mervin said of the proposed blackout: “It is not a threat, we are serious. If they won’t pick up the cards before 5pm today [Thursday], we will turn off the SABC tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 pm “
During a press conference, Mervin said that the union had the support of the workers of SABC, Cosatu and their affiliates in the planned action.
The UJ Student Public Relations Association (SPRA) has announced that its members will join Cosatu, the National Union of Education, Health and Allied Workers (Nehawu) and the CWU in a march to SABC headquarters on Friday to support employees facing the prospect of being laid off.
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