The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Gauteng held a picket outside the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) headquarters in Auckland Park. They handed over a memorandum demanding reinstatement of shop stewards and fair pay. The protest also calls for investigations into management decisions and progress on the SABC Bill.
On December 2, 2025, members of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Gauteng gathered for a picket at the SABC's headquarters in Auckland Park. The demonstration focused on the deregistration of the CWU at the SABC, highlighting ongoing labor disputes at the public broadcaster.
The group presented a memorandum of demands to SABC management. Key requests included the reinstatement of dismissed and suspended shop stewards, implementation of fair pay structures, and an investigation into various management decisions. Protesters also urged the Ministry and Parliament to accelerate the SABC Bill's processing and establish a sustainable funding model for the broadcaster.
CWU leader Sthembiso Mkhwanazi emphasized concerns over a partial back-pay agreement. He stated, “We call for an investigation into unilateral decisions by management, including the Group HR, to implement only 50% of the 2023-2024 back pay that was fought for and signed between the SABC and some members of the CWU task team. We demand to know who, on behalf of CWU, gave the go-ahead to sign the 50% deal with management for the 2023 back pay.”
This action underscores persistent tensions between the CWU and SABC leadership, amid broader challenges facing the public broadcaster's operations and funding. Previous disputes, such as failed wage negotiations, have similarly strained relations between the union and the corporation.