"The agreement means that we have everybody on board and that we can now begin the talks on the proper issues relating to the turnaround strategy," SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told Bizcommunity.com last night, Sunday, 13 March 2011.
"First step in the process"
"This is the first step in the process," broadcasting lobby group SOS spokesperson Kate Skinner said last night, pointing out that the agreement does not deal with any of the content or substantive issues, but only looks at how the SABC and the unions will engage each other.
"It looks at things like numbers of meetings, dispute resolution mechanisms, among others. CWU and MWASA have stated that they need to meet with the SABC board now, and apparently they have been trying to do this for a while.
"This will be the beginning of content discussions as they need to get a sense from the board about how they understand and interpret the strategy. Furthermore, they want to get a sense of how this turnaround strategy fits into the overall strategic direction of the SABC and its policies.
"In addition, they want to understand the board's vision for public broadcasting going forward. The unions are saying that it is important not to see the turnaround strategy in isolation from the broadcasting policy review process that will be taking place this year. The minister promised this in late 2010."
Needs to look at programming more broadly
Skinner added that MWASA has stated that the turnaround strategy needs not only look at immediate financial issues and issues of news, but at programming more broadly.
"The SABC must re-focus on its core mandate - the production of quality programming. These are all issues that SOS would fully endorse."
Several attempts last night to get comment from the unions proved unsuccessful.
As opposition political parties continue to moan about the 'unfair' selection at the SABC board of certain people, Skinner said: "It is unfortunate that the political parties did not reach consensus on the candidates. It would have been ideal if they had.
"New [board] members should be given a chance"
"The SABC should represent all communities and interests in the country - that is its role as our national public broadcaster. However, SOS believes the new members should be given a chance to show their worth, and that the general public must assess them in terms of their delivery of quality public programming for all."
