Brief
eMedia CEO says 171 staff are in consultation, not all set for retrenchment
Sherrif rejects reports that more than half of eNCA’s workforce will be let go, citing labour law requirements.
By Felo News Desk · Published
eMedia chief executive Khalik Sherrif told TechCentral that the 171 employees mentioned in recent reports are the pool required by law for a Section 189 consultation, not the number destined for retrenchment.
Sherrif said the figure represents everyone who must be included in the process when an employer reduces positions, even though only a fraction may ultimately lose their jobs. He added that the consultation is "much less than" 171 people losing work and that the process is nearing completion, with a few weeks remaining.
The confusion stems from an August Sunday Times story that cited notices signed by eNCA managing director Norman Munzhelele, suggesting that 171 of the channel’s 309 staff were slated for possible retrenchment – more than half the workforce. Sherrif clarified that Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act requires employers to consult all employees likely to be affected, which can inflate the consultation pool beyond the eventual cuts.
He declined to give specifics on how many will actually be retrenched, noting that details will be released after the consultation ends. Sherrif also refused to discuss whether artificial intelligence played a role in the restructuring, citing respect for staff.
Industry blogger Thinus Ferreira reported unverified claims of "silent retrenchments" and AI‑related statements by senior bosses, which TechCentral could not confirm. The notices, as reported, indicate eNCA aims to shift to a "smaller, focused, multi‑platform newsroom" due to changing audience habits and duplicated work, with consultations slated to finish by the end of November and any cuts taking effect from 1 December.
Key facts
- eMedia CEO Khalik Sherrif said the 171 staff are part of a legal consultation pool, not all slated for retrenchment. (techcentral.co.za)
- Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act requires employers to consult all employees likely to be affected, which can exceed the number of actual dismissals. (techcentral.co.za)
- The consultation process is expected to finish within a few weeks, with any retrenchments taking effect from 1 December. (techcentral.co.za)
Sources
- [1] techcentral.co.za — originally reported as “eMedia CEO breaks silence on eNCA retrenchments”
