The SABC has sent a letter of intent to the South African public broadcaster's three biggest trade unions - Bemawu, CWU and Mwasa - a copy of which TV with Thinus has, informing them officially that the SABC intends to reduce the headcount at the broadcaster by even more than the 700 the SABC board told parliament and with at least 500 that will have to be cut during this financial year.
ALSO READ: South African public broadcaster plans to get rid of 700 workers; or 1 on every 5 at the corporation.
That follows after Justice Ndaba, the SABC's acting head of human capital services told parliament's portfolio committee on communications in April that the SABC is getting ready to get rid of 699 of the public broadcaster's current 3 699 workers within the next two to three years - 1 out of every 5 current SABC workers.
In this new letter by Justine Ndaba addressed to the trade unions, the SABC says it's ''contemplating the need to reduce the number of employees.''
The SABC says that ''between 700 and 800 employees are likely to be affected over a two year period where about 500 to 600 employees will need to be reduced during the 2011/2012 financial year and the balance during the financial year 2012/2013.''
''The reduction process should start during July 2011 and the exercise be completed by 2013,'' says the SABC in the letter.
''The company is well aware of the impact on moral that this notice and these discussions is likely to have, and assures you that the entire matter will be dealt with as sensitively as possible.''
The SABC now plans a meeting which is set for this coming Wednesday, 13 July at Auckland Park to talk to the trade unions.
