eNCA has initiated consultation processes under Section 189, which may result in the reduction of staff by 171 employees. This is part of the restructuring of the company's news department with the aim of transitioning towards a future focused on digital technologies.
More than half of eNCA's employees could be dismissed as the 24-hour news channel begins a large-scale transformation of its traditional editorial office into a more compact operation focused on digital platforms.
According to a report published by the Sunday Times, 171 out of 309 eNCA employees are potentially affected by the Section 189 consultations. Employees were notified on Tuesday that they must report to eMedia offices on Wednesday by noon to begin consultations.
The notices, signed by eNCA Managing Director Norman Munzelele, outline the company's plans to change the structure of the news department in response to changing audience habits and the decline in traditional television viewing. The company noted that its current news department structure is based on outdated models that 'no longer support this evolving landscape.'
According to notices reviewed by the Sunday Times, eNCA intends to create a single integrated news department built on a 'digital-first' strategy. This strategy will ensure continuous content publication across all its television, online, and digital platforms.
The company stated that the restructuring is necessary to eliminate functional duplication, optimize workflows, and achieve a more efficient allocation of personnel and technical resources. The notice indicated that 'certain roles, functions, and/or structures can no longer be sustained in their current form.'
eNCA reported that the proposed changes aim to form a 'more compact, focused, multi-platform news department' that better aligns with modern news consumption models. The company argued that the existing staffing model insufficiently supports the multi-platform environment and contributes to content duplication.
Furthermore, the company emphasized that the new operational model will lead to 'more efficient workflows, greater platform integration, and more effective use of resources,' enabling 'faster and more sustainable journalism without compromising editorial standards.'
Although 171 employees have been identified as potentially affected, eNCA stressed that final decisions have not yet been made. The company clarified that there are no 'final and immutable' decisions regarding dismissals, and that employees will be consulted about potential job losses, restructuring proposals, selection criteria, and severance packages during the Section 189 process.
Some employees have already been considered for alternative positions within the organization where appropriate, and the company has also suspended contract renewals for temporary and freelance staff. The consultation process is expected to conclude by the end of November, with any dismissals taking effect on December 1.
Employees who are ultimately dismissed will receive a severance package equivalent to 1.5 weeks' pay for each full year of service. However, staff who 'unjustifiably refuse an alternative job offer made by the company' will not be entitled to severance pay.
The planned reduction occurred shortly after eMedia, the parent company of eNCA, e.tv, OpenView, and eVOD, published remuneration reports in accordance with amendments to the Companies Act. According to these reports, eMedia Group CEO Halik Sheriff earned 19 million Rands in the 2025 fiscal year, including a bonus of 10.3 million Rands, while the lowest-paid employee at the company received 98,000 Rands. The group reported revenues of 3 billion Rands and profits of 299.5 million Rands.
