CCMA orders SABC to backpay two senior staffers a 10-month salary's worth of what the public broadcaster paid a regional editor who got the job in an irregular appointment without a journalism qualification and after failing a vetting process.

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has ordered the SABC to backpay two senior staffers at the South African public broadcaster who must each get a 10-month salary's worth of what the SABC paid a regional SABC editor in Limpopo after the CCMA found that the SABC irregularly awarded the job to someone without any journalism qualification and who also failed a vetting process.

The SABC appointed Jubie Matlou without the necessary qualifications, with Piet Shai, CCMA commissioner, who found that the SABC had committed unfair labour practice and that the SABC failed to finalise the grievance interview within 6 weeks.

The Sowetan in the past week first reported the ruling of the CCMA case. It comes after both Sello Sam Mochichila, a current affair producer at the SABC's Thobela FM radio station, and Rudzani Bologo an assignment editor at the SABC's Munghana Lonone FM radio station, both applied for the position in 2017 but got overlooked.

Both went to the CCMA.

Jubie Matlou explained to the CCMA that he had a degree in communication, but said that it included journalism. The SABC told the CCMA that there "was nothing that prevented it to appoint Matlou" and that the SABC was "of the view that it followed its own policy and procedure".

Piet Shai states in his ruling said "I order the SABC to pay compensation to the applicants of a sum equivalent to Matlou's 10 months wages calculated at the latter's rate at the time of his appointment. The above amount shall be paid on 30 April 2019".

Piet Shai found that "the way the SABC dealt with his appointment gives the impression that the position was reserved for him regardless".

On Sunday CityPress reported that after the position was advertised externally, the SABC news and current affairs HR manager Mannie Alho in October 2017 wrote to Kenneth Makatees, the SABC group executive for news at the time, about the reason for advertising externally after a delay in making the appointment.

Mannie Alho wrote that "complications had arisen due to both external and internal political interference and also the panel's view that the internal candidates lacked equal experience and skills for both TV and radio news production and broadcasting".

It's not clear who was behind the "external and internal political interference" at the SABC alluded to in the letter.

Vuyo Mthembu, SABC spokesperson told CityPress that the SABC is "currently perusing the award and a decision on the way forward will be taken within the prescribed time period. The SABC will not engage on the content of the matter while it is still considering its options".

The suspended SABC TV boss Leo Manne wants his job back; has taken his case to the CCMA over the SABC suspension process and investigation.

The SABC's suspended boss for TV channels wants his job back and has now taken the SABC to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in order to be reinstated.

Leo Manne has been on suspension from his job as the general manager for TV channels at the SABC for 6 months already, pending an ongoing investigation.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago didn't respond to a media enquiry regarding Leo Manne's CCMA complaint.

The CCMA confirmed that Leonardo Moerane Manne has approached the commission regarding his suspension. Leo Manne alleges that the SABC suspension process and investigation have been unfair and that he wants the SABC to reinstate him as general manager for TV channels.

Leo Manne was suspended by the SABC on 25 September 2014.

According to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records, Leo Manne was a director of Siyaya TV Consortium. Leo Manne says he declared his business interests to the SABC in 2012.

According to the CIPC, Siyaya TV Consortium shares an address and auditors with Siyaya Free To Air TV, although it's two separate business ventures.

In 2014 Siyaya Free to Air TV, which got a pay-TV licence from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), secured exclusive radio and TV broadcasting rights to Bafana Bafana games in a 6-year broadcast deal reportedly worth more than R1 billion, taking it away from the SABC and SABC1.

Female SABC worker accuses SABC News boss Jimi Matthews of alleged physical violence, verbal and psychological attack.

A female SABC worker has laid a charge of assault at the South African Police Service and at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) against the SABC's head of news Jimi Matthews.

The woman, in charge of the SABC's outside broadcasting staff, who laid the charge at Cape Town Central Police Station, alleges that she was physically assaulted as well as verbally and psychologically attacked by Jimi Matthews during the SABC's coverage of president Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address on 12 February.

The CCMA complaints alleges that the woman, "was victimised, harassed and assaulted verbally, physically and psychologically by a male executive manager following a technical glitch beyond her control or that of the crew she supervised".

She was allegedly threatened "with more deliberate and purposeful violence".

Tuwani Gumani, the general secretary of the Media Workers Association of South Africa (Mwasa) asked the SABC's famously matricless chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the SABC's general executive of human capital services, Jabulani Mabaso, to suspend Jimi Matthews in a letter TV with Thinus has seen.

Tuwani Gumani wrote to the SABC executives, saying that "Jimi Matthews stands accused of alleged impropriety by a junior employee and female colleague he had allegedly deemed irresistably fit to accost, assault and threaten, verbally and otherwise during the fracas surrounding the State of the Nation Address of 12 February 2015."

"Whereas the alleged incidences happened during working hours, on SABC premises and in the full view of other employees, there has been no action on the part of the SABC to address the violation and transgression of its own and national policies regarding improper interpersonal conduct on the part of the head of SABC News."

Tuwani Gumani asked the SABC to "formally caution and to suspend Jimi Matthews with immediate effect".

The SABC didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment on the matter and asking whether Jimi Matthews has been suspended.