The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) allocated a total of R1.46 billion for staff salaries during the 2023/24 financial year, covering 2,234 employees. This means an average salary of R653,900 per employee, a decrease from the previous years. For comparison, the average salary in 2022/23 was R762,000, and in 2021/22 it was R669,000, reflecting a reduction in overall wage costs after restructuring.
The SABC undertook a major restructuring in April 2021, which resulted in over 600 job cuts under Section 189 to streamline the organization. This restructuring aimed at ensuring the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability.
Breakdown of Compensation by Staff Level:
- Top Management: R31.6 million for 11 employees, averaging R2.87 million per person
- Senior Management: R32.87 million for 20 employees, averaging R1.64 million each
- Middle Management: R261.5 million for 239 employees, averaging R1.09 million
- Junior Management: R277 million for 323 employees, averaging R857,612
- Supervisory Levels: R691.4 million for 1,182 employees, averaging R584,460
- Rest of Staff: R166.4 million for 458 employees, averaging R363,263
Despite these substantial costs, the SABC’s total salary expenses were lower than in previous years. In the 2022/23 financial year, the broadcaster spent R1.73 billion on salaries for 2,270 employees, and in 2021/22, it spent R1.54 billion for 2,297 employees.
Staff Terminations and Resignations
In the past year, 205 employees left the SABC, including 10 deaths. Additionally, 16 individuals were dismissed due to reasons such as poor performance, dishonesty, or inappropriate behavior. Among those fired were employees for misconduct like sleeping on the job or showing up under the influence of alcohol.
The report also revealed that 139 employees resigned, while 18 retired, and 19 opted for early retirement.
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Senior Management Compensation
The SABC spent R43 million on its senior management team, including the board members. The 11 Non-Executive Board Members received a combined R8.49 million, while the 4 Executive Board Members were paid R9.87 million. The remaining senior management members received R25.3 million.
Financial Performance
For the 2023/24 financial year, the SABC reported a net operating loss of R192 million, an improvement compared to the R826 million loss in the previous year. This represents a reduction in losses by R634 million, a significant positive shift for the public broadcaster.
The SABC’s total revenue amounted to R5.1 billion, with operational expenses totaling R5.3 billion. Revenue came from commercial sources (R4.1 billion), non-commercial sources (R1.0 billion), and net interest (R9 million).
