The future of the South African Union of Journalists (SAUJ) hangs in the balance. A call for a referendum on whether to dissolve the union was formally submitted to union leaders, while discussions were under way this week to ensure sufficient funds for the union’s day-to-day operations.
These are the latest developments after months of financial troubles and accusations of mismanagement — including the repeated writing-off of loans from the Joint Journalist Unemployment Benefit Fund (JJUBF), intended for training and unemployment support and funded by the interest on a share portfolio worth about R3,5-million.
The union held a special congress in June to address its shaky financial position and approved a final tranche of R250 000 from the JJUBF. That money is now almost exhausted as efforts to raise funds elsewhere, including the International Federation of Journalists, failed.
SAUJ general secretary Motsomi Mokhine confirmed a petition for a members’ referendum was received on Monday. It came after the national executive committee on Friday discussed holding a special congress in early February.
“Discussions could include dissolution,” said Mokhine, adding this would follow a report back on what were the steps taken since June’s special congress to ensure the union’s viability. However, he added that the petition now meant that a formal decision must be made on whether to proceed with the members’ referendum or special congress.
Dissolution is possible only if branches representing at least two-thirds of members vote in favour of it.
Talks about the possible dissolution of the union are taking place against the background of the SAUJ having almost run out of cash to pay its operating costs after the end of November.
This places the union in a precarious position: if it cannot pay its three officials after November, it may face action on contravention of labour laws before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
However, this week efforts were under way to keep the union afloat. “All I can say is there are some funds that are available outside the JJUBF,” said Mokhine.
At the June special congress it emerged that the SAUJ spends about R1-million a year on running costs, but receives only about R300 000 from members’ subscriptions.
The precarious financial situation dates to 1996 when the first interest-free loan from the JJUBF was approved on condition that such loans did not exceed 10% of the fund’s market value in the preceding year. However, since then each annual congress simply wrote off such loans. Subsequently the R5-million JJUBF has been reduced to R3,5-million this year.
The union has been hit by diminishing membership figures and apathy. Membership has dropped in the past few years from more than 1 200 to about 500. The financial troubles have led to several resignations from national executive committee members.
In addition, the union is awaiting official notification that its president, Bongi Sishi, has resigned from his newspaper job — thus barring him from holding any union office.
Meanwhile, it appears the forensic investigation of the union accounts agreed to in June has stalled over an upfront payment to the auditors. The investigation was approved to get to the bottom of allegations of money squandering, inadequate bookkeeping and lack of financial controls over, for example, petty cash and travel costs.