The coalition says that it is pleased that 2010 “will start off with fresh leadership” and it is looking forward to working with the new board and GCEO in turning the SABC into a profitable institution that is answerable to the South African public and “a jewel in our national crown”.
However, the TVIEC has questioned why the interim board made this “sudden and unexpected announcement” and did not defer the appointment to the incoming permanent board given that they are weeks away from taking the helm of the SABC. The coalition says, “This seems to undermine the incoming board from the outset. We trust the GCEO and the new board will meet as soon as possible to forge a relationship of their own”.
The coalition is however, critical of the interim board over it says is the board's failure to “keep its word to our sector in resolving the crisis around non-payment to producers and artists”. The coalition says the outstanding debt runs into millions of rands to the independent production sector and claims that the amount is “growing daily due to repeat broadcasts that are not being paid to actors, writers and production companies”. The TVIEC says that interim board made a number of promises to pay the independent producers, but failed to do so and as a result the coalition “feels duped.”
“We call upon the new board and GCEO to act swiftly in resolving the matter of outstanding debt to our sector as unfortunately the Interim Board and management have abused the goodwill of the independent production sector and people now demand payment to be made swiftly and without further delays. This must be a priority on their incoming Board's agenda, together with resolving the ongoing operational crisis at the SABC. To this end we commit to working with the GCEO and board to ensure that this matter is now swiftly settled”.
The coalition says that the crisis at the SABC “has seen a historic coming together of formalised business and labour in the film and television industry. The CWUSA (Creative Workers Union of South Africa), IPO (Independent Producers Association) and SASFED (South African Screen Federation) have committed to a two-day workshop on 3 and 4 February to seek out and agree to a common vision and roadmap for the industry with a focus on building sustainable livelihoods for creative workers and businesses. Key issues will be intellectual property ownership, fair trade and financial agreements between broadcasters, producers and artists - and a revitalised focus on building local content.
“Our industry has paid a heavy price for the management and financial crisis at the SABC. It has led to company closures, retrenchments and job losses. We cannot let that happen again.
The coalition says that it is:
• Committed to building a sustainable and responsible production sector that is able to meet the demands and needs of the SA democracy and economy, and offer sustainable employment in line with the objectives of our government. “Our sector has huge capacity for job creation and we are committed to growing and developing skills”, says the coalition.
• Committed itself to working to create a united cohesive society and to promoting unity in diversity and to develop a shared value system based on the spirit of community solidarity and a caring society.
• Committed to working together to speed up its economic growth and sustainability and to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods for all in our industry.
