The SA National Editors Forum yesterday expressed concern about the imminent closure of the SA Press Association.“Sanef extends its solidarity and support to the 48 staff , including 35 journalists, at the Sapa who are about to lose their jobs in an industry that has already shed far too many posts under tough economic conditions,” the organisation said in a statement.
It said Sapa’s imminent closure was a concern.
“We are concerned about the demise of the 76-year-old independent national news agency and how it will affect the media landscape in the country and the continent, given its important role in the daily fabric of newsrooms – big and small.”
Sapa would be liquidated as a non-profit company and close its doors at the end of March.
Since Sapa, which has been in existence since 1938, was a special category non-profit company, it could not be sold off.
The Sapa board said three parties, Gallo Images, KMM Review Publishers, and Sekunjalo Investments Holdings, had expressed an interest in setting up an operation on similar lines as Sapa.
Sanef said it hoped that the retrenchment packages would benefit staff.
“We hope that the interests of staff will be paramount when the issue of retrenchment packages are finalised and that the surplus in its pension fund will be used to benefit workers.
“We trust too that steps will be taken to ensure that the crucial archive of this news agency continues to be freely available to South African media.”
Sanef ‘concerned’ about Sapa demise
“Sanef extends its solidarity and support to the 48 staff , including 35 journalists, at the Sapa who are about to lose their jobs in an industry that has already shed far too many posts under tough economic conditions,” the organisation said in a statement.
It said Sapa’s imminent closure was a concern.
“We are concerned about the demise of the 76-year-old independent national news agency and how it will affect the media landscape in the country and the continent, given its important role in the daily fabric of newsrooms – big and small.”
Sapa would be liquidated as a non-profit company and close its doors at the end of March.
Since Sapa, which has been in existence since 1938, was a special category non-profit company, it could not be sold off.
The Sapa board said three parties, Gallo Images, KMM Review Publishers, and Sekunjalo Investments Holdings, had expressed an interest in setting up an operation on similar lines as Sapa.
Sanef said it hoped that the retrenchment packages would benefit staff.
“We hope that the interests of staff will be paramount when the issue of retrenchment packages are finalised and that the surplus in its pension fund will be used to benefit workers.
“We trust too that steps will be taken to ensure that the crucial archive of this news agency continues to be freely available to South African media.”
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