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Ndabeni-Abrahams left frustrated about SABC skills audit and retraining of staff

Details

sabcSowetanLive reports that the board of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams are headed for another collision course over the retrenchment of staff.  

Apparently, the minister is unhappy with the omission of some of the key items agreed upon with the board in a meeting held on Monday.  These include undertaking a skills audit to determine what skills the SABC has and what it needs as well as retraining of staff.  On Tuesday, the SABC announced the suspension of its retrenchment processes for 30 days and that an independent labour relations expert would be appointed as a mediator during consultations with workers.  However, Ndabeni-Abrahams was apparently left frustrated that the board had failed to include in its statement the fact that a skills audit had to be undertaken before certain positions were made redundant.  In addition, Ndabeni-Abrahams, her deputy Pinky Kekana and labour and employment minister Thulas Nxesi had agreed that workers would be retrained to be given other skills required for the roles according to a new structure.  When approached for comment on the omissions, Ndabeni-Abrahams's spokesperson Mish Molakeng said:  "We can confirm that the list you mentioned forms part of the agreement reached at yesterday’s [Monday's] meeting of the ministers of communications and digital technologies; employment and labour; the SABC board and its executive; as well as organised labour.  We have no doubt that a way forward will be found given that all parties met in good faith and demonstrated commitment towards finding a solution."

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Isaac Mahlangu at SowetanLive


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