LISTEN: Mokonyane concerned about Afro Worldview jobs
Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has expressed
concern over job losses after Afro Worldview’s contract with MultiChoice came
to an end on Monday.
The channel formerly known as ANN7 was taken off air at midnight on Monday.
“While noting that these are commercial agreements between private parties, of concern to government was the potential loss of 300 jobs which are mainly held by black, young women and men, whose employment without a doubt is a source of income for their immediate and extended families,” says spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has vowed to save jobs by ensuring the new broadcaster absorbs the current Afro World View employees.
Ndamase says Mokonyane has also been in talks with MultiChoice.
“We have been informed by MultiChoice SA of their intention to make an announcement on a new 24-hour news channel by Tuesday, 28 August 2018, whose conditions amongst others is to consider the future employability of the no less than 300 workers affected by the Afro World View contractual termination.”
Ndamase says the department is confident that release of spectrum as part of the digital migration process from analogue will create sufficient opportunities for transformation in the media sector.