By Beauregard Tromp, Baldwin Ndaba and Siyabonga Mkhwanazi
Unions calling for the resignation of the entire executive and board of the SABC said they were holding the acting CEO hostage until their demands are met.
Communications Workers' Union regional representative, Clyde Mervin said they would not allow acting CEO Gab Mampone to leave his office until he had agreed to their demands.
The unions accused the public broadcaster of reneging on a deal for 12 percent increases. The SABC has thus far stood firm at seven percent.
"We will not allow him to leave until he agrees to our demands," said Mervin.
He confirmed that union officials were holed up in the CEO's office.
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The standoff on Wednesday was preceded by a meeting of managers earlier this week, where they called for the axing of Mampone and chief financial officer Robin Nicholson.
At the SABC offices in Auckland Park on Wednesday, staff seemed blissfully unaware of the drama taking place on the 25th floor, with radio presenters slowly filtering in for their shifts.
The CWU and SABC are scheduled to have a dispute hearing on June 14 before the CCMA.
The SABC is severely cash-strapped, with the public broadcaster being nearly R800-million in the red. Unofficial sources put this number as high as R1,4-billion.
Last week, producers who provide popular soaps and other content for the SABC marched on the head offices to demand payment.
A call to Mampone at midday on Wednesday was unfruitful, while SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago was not available for comment.
CWU members have already threatened strike action should the CCMA efforts fail.
The Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers Union have threatened to take the SABC to court if they fail to implement the increase.
Meanwhile, the full bench of the Johannesburg High Court will rule on the SABC's decision to suspend Dali Mpofu as CEO on May 7 last year.
And Parliament's communications committee chairman, Ismail Vadi, on Wednesday said the SABC board is illegal.
Vadi said Parliament's legal advisers had informed him the board was not properly constituted and that any decisions taken by it would have no force.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of The Star on June 11, 2009
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