SABC bosses were this week locked in an urgent indaba to deal with the exodus of its top talent, writes Cecil Motsepe in City Press.
The public broadcaster has lost no fewer than 12 of its top-drawer journalists and presenters since the beginning of the year.
The latest people to join the exodus include top SABC Africa newsreader Peter Ndoro, reporters Njanji Chauke, Muzi Mkhwanazi and Seleste Tema, wife of sports presenter Tabiso Tema.
Their resignations follow those of Lerato Mbele, Nikiwe Bikitsha, John Perlman and Mandlakazi Mphahlwa.
City Press understands that the exodus was triggered by management’s apparent failure to deal with problems ranging from salary concerns, alleged favouritism and the recent move to deter staff from holding more than one job.
“People who used to take home R40 000 a month suddenly find themselves having to survive on R12 000 because of this one-man-one-job thing.
“Morale is at its lowest. It is really bad because we have expensive houses and cars. How do they expect us to cope,†said a disgruntled employee.
Many of them have fingered the perceived autocratic management style of embattled news boss Snuki Zikalala as the main reason for their discomfort.
While the SABC board wanted the leadership style to change, as recommended by the recent Sisulu Commission of Inquiry into the blacklisting of political commentators, they wanted Zikalala to stay.
Click here to read the full report, posted on City Press's website.
