The IFP firmly believes that the ongoing protest action at the SABC – due to the restructuring at the public broadcaster – sets a dangerous precedent for all other state-owned entities, which may also have to retrench staff.
The main issue is about resolving an impasse regarding the fact that SABC management cannot be a player and referee in this process – as the current leadership is, in fact, also employed by the public broadcaster. Therefore, a party that can provide neutral, fair, credible and independent consultation is needed to resolve this impasse.
Indeed, it is unfortunate that the current personnel’s lives and livelihoods are to be affected by this process. However, the SABC Board’s decision is based upon resolutions that were taken through a lengthy ad-hoc process, which was unanimously supported in Parliament.
The SABC is now experiencing the bitter ramifications of the financial mismanagement by its former unqualified leadership and management over the past few years.
However, the manner in which the process of restructuring has been dealt with – and the trimming of a bloated staff organogram – has caused serious consternation and therefore renewed consultation and discussion is necessary.
Therefore, the IFP will request that the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, urgently appoints an independent change-management and human resources specialist firm to assist the SABC in its restructuring and retrenchment process.
This will ensure that financial controls are properly implemented and that the correct staff are retrenched, in particular, those who earn more than what they offer to the public broadcaster, as well as those who were irrationally appointed by the former corrupt regime in the SABC.
It must be said that the restructuring at the SABC is necessary and it is indeed what the public broadcaster needs to do in order to balance its books, better manage its wage bill and to stop seeking financial aid from the taxpayers.
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Contact:
Zandile Majozi, MP
IFP Spokesperson on Communications and Digital Technologies
073 052 9556