Eight ANN7 employees allegedly dismissed for refusing ANCYL address
At least eight African News Network 7 (ANN7) employees were on Friday reportedly escorted off the company’s Gauteng premises in connection with their refusal in April to be addressed by African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) leader Collen Maine, and their alleged intimidation of a colleague.
An additional 12 final written warnings were issued along with 11 other warnings, according to two sources, who have both requested anonymity.
It is alleged that the eight employees have been dismissed with immediate effect for bringing the company into disrepute.
According to the sources, Maine was booed by employees in April as they felt betrayed by the ANCYL president whom they believe had not supported them during times of need. The dismissal is also understood to be a part of ANN7’s response to those who allegedly intimidated a colleague who had written to banks to save all jobs at ANN7’s holding company Oakbay. The letter followed the decision of major banks in South Africa to close Oakbay’s bank accounts.
The dismissed employees had allegedly "bullied" and "intimidated" the author of the open letter although this has been denied by the sources.
Attempts to contact ANN7’s editor-in-chief Moegsien Williams were unsuccessful. - ANA