SABC delays retrenchment process by seven days

A statement by the SABC says the delay is to allow further engagements to take place in an attempt to ensure the financial sustainability of the public broadcaster.

Board members held an emergency meeting on Thursday evening, after dramatic scenes played itself out as 400 permanent workers were served with Section 189 retrenchment notices across offices of the public broadcaster since the beginning of the week.

It led to the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) calling for its members to go on strike on Friday and bring the SABC stations to its knees.

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“The SABC is committed to meaningfully engaging with all stakeholders as it continues to make the corporation financially sustainable in order to fulfill its public mandate,” says Acting spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo

Meanwhile, President of the Broadcasting Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) Hannes du Buisson has described the decision by the SABC Board as nothing but delaying tactics. 

“We believe that this is a strategy to derail the current processes that are being rolled out at the SABC, which is the urgent application that will be heard next week before the Labour Court.”