FINANCIAL CRISIS
Broke SABC temporarily suspends job cuts
The loss-making SABC says no lender is prepared to do business with it amid the severe cash crunch
The SABC, which remains in a dire financial situation, has suspended its retrenchment process amid pressure from the government, labour and other stakeholders. The public broadcaster had hoped to conclude the process by the end of January. It has been unable to pay all its creditors and warned in November that it would be unable to pay salaries by February, unless a R3bn guarantee was secured from the government. SABC spokesperson Neo Momodu confirmed at the weekend that the retrenchment process was suspended. The planned job cuts were likely to affect about 1,000 permanent employees and 1,200 freelancers. "The SABC communicated to staff and organised labour at the end of 2018 that the envisaged [section] 189 process [retrenchments] was held in abeyance and this is still the case to date," Momodu said. "The SABC’s dire financial situation is a matter of public record. Monies owed to creditors are steadily climbing, however, the SABC has worked out a payment plan in consultation with...
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