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By Sihle Mlambo 
12h ago
Johannesburg – More than 400 jobs are back on the line at SABC after a short-lived victory that saw the executive of the group of public news broadcasters withdraw staff reduction notices late Tuesday afternoon.
A heated and emotional meeting between SABC management and newsroom staff saw Phathiswa Magopeni, the executive of the news and current affairs group, succumb to the pressure she faced from staff pleading with management to stop the layoffs.
There was a blackout when staff refused to go on the air in light of impending downsizing at the public broadcaster.
The SABC announced a net loss of R511 million in Parliament on Tuesday when it presented its annual report for 2019/20.
In an urgent update, released Wednesday morning, the SABC said: “In light of the unfortunate incident that took place in our news division last night, please note that the Section 189 process continues as planned.
“SABC management and its board of directors apologize for any confusion that was generated yesterday afternoon.
“Management will communicate with the news team about the concerns they have raised.”
Last week, SABC said it planned to issue layoff notices to 400 workers in a bid to save R700m a year for the next three years.
The SABC said it would restructure the organization, freeze salaries for three years, end the leave payment policy and revise its annual and sick leave policies in a bid to make the public broadcaster viable.
It also lamented the public’s failure to pay TV license refunds and said it was exploring ways to use DStv, with more than 10 million subscribers, as a collection agency for the public broadcaster.
Speaking to SABC News on Wednesday morning, the board’s vice chairman Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi said the board was divided over the staff cuts.
She said at least five board members, including herself, were against the staff cuts at SABC.
“Some board members disagree with the Section 189 process.
“We believe that there should be better consultation and we believe that Section 189 takes the SABC back rather than forward.
“Some board members have been pushing this Section 189 issue very strongly, but some of us believe that the Section 189 process will have a detrimental effect on SABC’s restructuring strategy,” he said.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi said the SABC could not afford to lose some of the experience it had and said the layoffs were frustrating and unhappy people.
He called for a proper engagement process with staff and unions on the issue.
“Seeing what happened yesterday on television made it clear that those of us who disagree should speak up and say that we are not unanimous on this issue,” he said.
MESS
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