SABC board's luxuries curbed

2009-08-04 22:07

Pretoria - The SABC is confident there will be enough in its coffers to pay workers an additional 1.5%, the broadcaster's interim board chairperson, Irene Charnley, said on Tuesday.

This follows its announcement last week that it had agreed with labour unions to up its pay increase offer from 8.5% to 10%.

Charnley said the board had investigated whether it would be able to sustain the extra 1.5%.

"That is why we are proposing to the unions that the 1.5% be effectively implemented by December this year and backdated to April," she said.

Harsh cost-cutting measures had been implemented to ensure the broadcaster did not overspend, including board members forfeiting some of their privileges.

These included board members forfeiting household appliances such as satellite television.

Conferences

"We do not want that privilege... we already have such televisions in our house, the board accepted a loan laptop, G3 card and phone, that is all," she said.

Charnley said board members would fly economy class and not business class, which was part of their privilege package.

As a cost cutting measure, the board had put a halt on conferences and seminars.

Flanked by interim board members Libby Lloyd, Susan Vos and acting chief executive officer Gab Mampone, Charnley said the board had not taken a decision on closing the international bureaux.

"We are not closing them... we are checking on how much they cost us to run. We will thereafter consult organised labour if they should be closed."

- SAPA