There's been a recent thawing in relationsships between Mwasa and the SABC's top executive - Mwasa and the SABC has been in a cold wat of sorts for the past two years, which also led to Mwasa being shut out as an acknowledged trade union within the SABC as the relationship deteriorated. Some of Mwasa's rights as a trade union was reinstated last month at the public broadcaster, although issues remain.
Mwasa's public protest in front of the SABC's Radiopark building today follows the public protest march of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on Friday who publicly picketed the SABC amidst claims of news bias and political news bias at the SABC and which the IFP claims is favouring the ruling party, the ANC.
The SABC executive, which included the SABC's CEO Lulama Mokhobo and several SABC board members including Cedric Gina and Suzanne Vos, met with the Mwasa protesters.
The SABC told Mwasa that some of the names appearing on Mwasa membership list (the new additional names to make Mwasa reach the threshold of SABC standards to be recognised as a legitimate trade union within the public broadcaster) are also appearing on the name lists of the other trade unions. The SABC said it is busy checking the list.
Mwasa gave the SABC 14 days to respond to its demands. Mwasa says it now qualifies for a seat at the bargaining table again as a trade union and wants its full organisational rights reinstated.
