No financial crisis, no forced retrenchments, says SABC

"In fact, we are comfortable with our financial position because our cash flow showed an amount of R5.6 million in the bank at the end of June," Ndaba said, as the public broadcaster starts making plans to roll out its digital terrestrial television (DTT).

SA lags behind in DTT roll-out

The complicated DTT, in which South Africa lags behind in terms of roll-out timeframe compared to other less rich countries, requires complex infrastructure, which Ndaba admits the public broadcaster cannot afford.

"All over the world, public broadcasters are funded by the public, and in this case we told Parliament recently that we will require a lot of infrastructure," he said.

As the debate around the financial health of the public broadcaster heats up in various corridors, Ndaba said the SABC is undergoing a three-stage process, namely recovery, stabilisation and sustainability.

"We have already recovered and we are going through the stabilisation process, and the financial year 2013-2014 we will reach the sustainability stage," he said.

Fundamental component of turnaround process

It is understood that one of the fundamental components of this process includes retrenching about 800 employees, including about 600 people of over 55-years of age, over a three-year period.
It is believed that at least 200 employees of over 55 years of age nationwide leave the corporation every year, to go into retirement.

But, reports of forced retrenchments have angered the unions which believe that the public broadcaster is abusing its corporate power to cause their members' suffering.

However, the SABC today reiterated that it is not forcibly retrenching anyone, stating that it will offer voluntary severances packages (VSP) besides allowing the natural attritions take its course. This means waiting for people to reach their retirement age and taking it from there.

"It is all about realigning the corporation and not necessarily retrenching, and the issue has been discussed with officials of unions who are here present," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng, SABC group executive for stakeholder relations and provinces.
Air has now been cleared

Both Hannes du Buisson of BEMAWU and Manthakana Nhlapo of CWU said they are satisfied that the air has now been cleared and the SABC has given them assurances that their members will not lose their jobs.

"Dear colleagues, I am sure now you know that there will be no retrenchments," spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in closing.

The SABC, which will this financial year make a loss of R228 million, is expected to make a profit of R12.3 million in the next financial year.