by Thinus Ferreira
At least one implicated manager is already gone with others involved in disciplinary processes after the South African public broadcaster started hunting ghost workers in its SABC News division.
The bloated broadcaster that made a R1.1 billion loss in its latest reported financial year, in 2024 will once again be confronted with possible retrenchments to downsize its personnel corps similar to the ailing South African Post Office which will let go of 6 000 workers next year as part of its business rescue process.
Meanwhile, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) which has declared another wage dispute with the SABC, has already threatened that it will jeopardise the broadcaster in 2024 during what is South Africa's next general election year.
Nathen Bowers, CWU national bargaining co-ordinator, threatened that the union will "roll out a programme of action in the second week of January 2024" and "if the SABC doesn't accede to workers' demands, then we are going to put the general election in jeopardy".
The SABC has been busy rooting out ghost workers, with Moshoeshoe Monare, SABC News boss, who had started an investigation into bogus workers bleeding the broadcaster dry.
The SABC in a statement says it can "confirm that the SABC group executive for news and current affairs, Moshoeshoe Monare has launched an extensive investigation into freelance contracts that turned out to be irregular, corrupt and fraudulent".
According to the SABC, "one of the managers under investigation tendered a resignation with immediate effect, while other staff members are facing disciplinary processes".
The broadcaster says "the matter is addressed within the SABC's human resources policies and will also be referred to the other relevant authorities for further investigation".
