Four big issues plaguing the national broadcaster

Retrenchments

In the midst of its financial instability, the SABC sought to retrench 981 full-time employees and more than 1,000 freelancers.

If the crisis is not solved, thousands may not receive their salaries by the end of March.

During her tenure, former Minister of Communications Nomvula Mokonyane slammed the SABC for the planned retrenchments.

According to Makhathini, promotions and salary increases under the previous executive and board added to the public broadcaster’s financial woes.

The SABC board said it had had to negotiate terms with production companies behind popular soapies such as MuvhangoGenerations The Legacy and Uzalo. The broadcaster is expected to pay the companies R20m rand a month, but has negotiated to pay only R5m.

The SABC reported that it also cannot afford to pay other service providers, including Sentech, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation, SuperSport and the South African Football Association.

Board resignations

Last week, four board members, Mathatha Tsedu, Krish Naidoo, Khanyisile Kweyama and John Mattison, resigned following a letter from minister of communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.

In it she accused the board of not acting in the interests of South Africa and the public broadcaster.

Ndabeni-Abrahams and the board are at odds about the retrenchment of thousands of full-time employees and freelancers.

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