Union assured SABC won't retrench

Johannesburg - The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) said on Friday it is happy that there will be no retrenchments at the SABC.

"As CWU, we are delighted by the reassurance of the SABC top executive management to rectify the mistake made by the chairperson of the board," CWU spokesperson Matankana Mothapo said in a statement.

It was issued after a meeting between the union and the SABC's executive management.

"Because as CWU, the utterances such as 'early retirement', 'voluntary severance packages' and 'reducing headcount' to us in the trade union movement language simply means retrenchment.

"And as CWU, we will never allow any action by any employer including the SABC which is intended to destroy jobs in an economy that is already experiencing high levels of unemployment and poverty."

SABC board chairperson Ben Ngubane told parliament's portfolio committee on communication on Tuesday that headcounts were high at the SABC. He said the board might need government assistance to deal with retrenchment at the public broadcaster.