Trade union Solidarity has raised concerns that Media24’s planned restructuring could affect more employees than initially indicated and called on the company to provide transparency about the scope of the retrenchments.

In a statement released on Thursday, Solidarity said conflicting section 189A notices issued to employees this week had created uncertainty about the number of positions at risk.

The union said initial notices sent to affected staff indicated that about 126 positions could be affected, particularly within the sports and lifestyle editorial teams.

However, Solidarity labour relations organiser Johan Roos said the union now believed the impact of the restructuring process could be much broader.

“Notices sent to different departments differ and create confusion, and it is clear to us that this is much wider than initially indicated,” Roos said.

The union has called on Media24 to disclose the full extent of the planned job cuts, including which departments and employees could be affected.

“We want to be able to see which staff in which departments are affected, from sports and lifestyle editorial teams to the business news editorial teams, as well as sales staff and any other employees,” Roos further stated.

“Instead of vague indications, we need the full and transparent picture of the retrenchments planned for the organisation.”

Solidarity, which describes itself as the largest union at Media24, expressed concern that another retrenchment process was affecting employees while senior management decisions were not being scrutinised.

The union also called on Media24 to disclose its strategic and financial plans, as well as the salaries of senior executives and editors.

“Solidarity does not believe that another retrenchment process is the solution to ongoing management problems,” the union said in a previous statement.

The section 189A process refers to large-scale retrenchments under South Africa’s Labour Relations Act, requiring employers to consult with affected employees and representatives before final decisions are made.

The latest restructuring comes after Media24 previously confirmed plans to cut costs amid ongoing challenges facing the media industry.

Solidarity said it would continue assisting members affected by the Media24 process, as well as employees impacted by retrenchment plans at Novus Media and eMedia’s eNCA newsroom, where the union said up to 171 positions could be affected.

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Source: https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-08-06-media24-retrenchments-may-be-wider-than-first-disclosed-says-solidarity/