Two days ago, SABC requested for COVID-19 relief in the amount of R1.5 billion, but Cosatu demanded the broadcaster to stand down.
A month ago, SABC announced their plans to lay off about 600 permanent employees and more freelance positions and in turn received a number of bailouts from the government.
Sizwe Pamla, Cosatu spokesperson mentioned that the company the bailout should not be through the use of taxpayer’s money.
Sometime in May, the broadcaster (SABC) admitted that they were really hit in terms of revenues by COVID-19 breakout but has applied some measures in order to alleviate this.
“If you look at the exorbitantly corrupt contracts that are still entertaining at the public broadcaster it means they are not in a desperate situation. If they were in a desperate situation, they would do something about that.”
“When you are going to retrench workers, you first have to convince everybody that this is the only option that you have.”
“Look at the power utility, as an example, they are aggressively pursuing all of those people who were involved in looting. What is the SABC doing to make sure that it reverses some of the contracts that were corrupt and goes after the people who are implicated in looting?” Sizwe said.
