Inquiry finds widespread sexual harassment at SABC

An independent commission of inquiry has released a damning report detailing sexual harassment against staff by senior officials at the SABC.

 

The commission, chaired by Barbara Watson, was established in June this year.

 

The report was released at the SABC headquarters in Auckland Park on Tuesday.

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A total of 10 cases of sexual harassment were lodged directly by victims and seven by whistle-blowers, 25 SABC officials were interviewed, 11 alleged perpetrators were interviewed and two external witnesses were also interviewed.

 

“In most cases, HR failed to follow the procedure in terms of the employment equity Act. particularly the code of conduct on how to deal with sexual harassment, including the SABC’s own policies. The findings relay a strong perception among all the people who came to see us, that HR and senior managers collude and cover up for perpetrators in cases of sexual harassment,” said Watson.

 

Former chairperson at the Commission for Gender Equality, Mfana Shozi, confirmed that only women came forward and all alleged perpetrators were men.

 

The worst cases happened at Lotus FM in KwaZulu-Natal and Channel Africa.

 

Shozi said while the inquiry was requested by staff in the Television division, most of the complaints come from the radio division of the broadcaster.

 

“SABC knew there was a sexual harassment case at the Bloemfontein regional office but they said because it’s not reported they are not going to do anything about it. I think there is a duty on the employer when issues of sexual harassment are raised to investigate them and engage the victim."

 

He said in one case, a senior manager approached a staff member and asked her to fondle him.

 

“All of the perpetrators who came before us denied the allegations. They said they are Christians and one of them even showed us a rosary and some told us they are married men."

 

Watson said all the victims, except for two, were freelancers.

 

“This brings us to this whole cohort of freelancers at the SABC. They are some of the people that experience the worst form of abuse and ultimate discrimination. You have the policy of the SABC at the moment vests excessive an almost all powers to one person to be able to fire and hire people, and you know, power corrupts. We find that sometimes HR is not even aware of who has been appointed as a consulted.”

 

The commission has recommended the broadcaster runs gender equality workshops for all staff with a particular focus on violence against women, to review the sexual harassment policy in line with international law, SABC policies and domestic laws and to set aside a budget focused on implementing this policy.

 

The broadcaster has also been advised to pay urgent attention to both Channel Africa and Lotus FM’s leadership and attend to the worrying cases of gender-based violence at the two entities.