Editorial Note: This story has been updated to include the summary of a BCCSA Tribunal judgment.
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Ace Magashule has expressed disappointment at the perceived arrogance of the SABC board to continue with the retrenchment process at the public broadcaster.
He says the ANC is monitoring developments and is engaging with Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams as she handles the matter.
ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule speaks about retrenchments at the SABC:
Following a complaint laid with the BCCSA, by Media Monitoring Africa and the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition, regarding the above interview the SABC has been directed to broadcast and publish the summary of the judgment as follows:
“On the 30th of November 2020 the BCCSA received a complaint from MMA/SOS against the SABC News programme, Full View which plays on Channel 404 in which they raised their concerns regarding the manner in which SABC’s journalists conducted an interview with the incumbent Secretary General of the ANC, Mr. Ace Magashule regarding the ongoing retrenchment of SABC’s employees. The complaint specifically focused on the issue that the journalists’ conduct at the time had the potential of inciting political violence or rather of creating tension between the Executive Management of the SABC and the ruling party. The matter was heard by a Tribunal of the BCCSA on the 29th of January 2021 where the Tribunal ruled in favour of the MMA/SOS:
‘that the provisions of clause 28 of the subscription code of conduct was contravened and accordingly issued a R10 000 fine against the SABC’.
In mitigation, the SABC undertook to take internal disciplinary steps against the two journalists, as a risk mitigation step to curb against any future misconduct. The MMA/SOS lodged an appeal against the sanction imposed by the First Tribunal. They were of the opinion that there was a need for the SABC to apologize to the SABC Executive Management and the general South African public for making false statements during the interview. The BCCSA Appeal Tribunal took all factors into consideration and ruled that:
- It is satisfied that steps have been taken against the journalists who conducted the interview and that the SABC is to continue with applicable internal processes in order to rectify any elements of misconduct.
- The BCCSA cannot compel the SABC to issue an apology to the SABC Executive Management or the South African public as the BCCSA never received a complaint from either the SABC Executive management or the broader South African public. The Appellants are the only complainants before the Appeal Tribunal and as such cannot request an apology on behalf of these two parties.
- The Appeal Tribunal confirmed the fine of R10 000 against the SABC which was imposed by the First Tribunal and which is payable within 14 days of the release of the judgment.”
Minister calls for calm
Ndabeni-Abrahams has called for calm while her department intervenes in the SABC‘s intention to retrench about 400 permanent staff by the end of the year.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the SABC, Magashule said there is no need for retrenchments.
“As the ANC, we have our deployee, the Minister of Communications. We have engaged with her and I know that she’s very clear there is no need for retrenchments at the SABC and I don’t know why some board members are so intransigent and I think they show some arrogance. I don’t know why they are so arrogant. It’s clear what they want to do is to commercialise, privatise SABC which is against the ANC position.”
SABC board chairperson confirms retrenchments are continuing:
Earlier, SABC Board Chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini criticised his deputy, Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi, for speaking out against job cuts at the SABC.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi says five board members are opposed to the retrenchment of 400 permanent staff at the public broadcaster. The SABC board has three executive members and 11 non-executive members.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi’s comments come after SABC management confirmed that it’s continuing with retrenchments.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi says, “Those of us who against the (section) 189, have taken the stance that we have taken because we do not want a blackout at the SABC. And in view that yesterday, we posted a negative result in relation to the growth of the institution. That in itself, coupled with the blackout, will really spiral down a wrong path and we don’t want that to happen because at the end of the day, everybody loses, the SABC loses, the staff of the SABC loses, the board of the SABC loses.”
Makhathini has acknowledged that some board members are opposed to the retrenchments but says the board has mandated management to implement the restructuring and his deputy has to respect that resolution.
