Press Statement dated 2 November 2018
The Public Servants Association (PSA) strongly condemns planned retrenchments that will leave almost a third of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) employees unemployed by February 2019.
The SABC set out restructuring and retrenchment plans that will save it some R440 million and will affect 981of its approximately 3 400 permanent employees and half of its 2 400 freelancers.
“Despite the SABC’s cited reasons for the ‘drastic measures’ to address it ‘dire’ financial situation after suffering a loss of R622 million in the last financial year, its undertakings to consult with employees and their unions, and comply with applicable labour legislation, employees across at all levels in the SABC will unfortunately pay the price for what the SABC group CEO, Madoda Mxakwe, called ‘irregular and unlawful’ operational decisions made by former senior executives,” said PSA General Manager, Ivan Fredericks.
“The PSA condemns the mooted retrenchments that will further contribute to the country’s growing unemployment statistics. The PSA and it 240 000 members pledge solidarity with SABC employees and call upon all stakeholders to explore solutions that will address the rot without sacrificing employees who were not part of the decay,” said Mr Fredericks.
Issued by Ivan Fredericks, General Manager, Public Servants Association (PSA)