SABC workers who want a pay hike of 12,2 percent will start picketing today.

SABC workers who want a pay hike of 12,2 percent will start picketing today.

They are also demanding the sacking of senior managers whom they blame for the financial crisis at the public broadcaster.

Media Workers' Association of SA spokesperson Ernest Dlamini said: "They (managers) paid themselves huge bonuses. We believe that is one reason why there is a financial crisis at the SABC."

He said the union had also levelled allegations of corruption at managers, which had not been investigated.

Dlamini said workers had instructed the unions not to accept the latest salary increase of 10 percent until there was a written guarantee.

"The workers have indicated that they will take the offer on condition that it is confirmed in writing. We have lost trust in management," he said.

Communication Workers Union spokesperson Vulture Ntuluki said workers would accept the increase on condition there was an undertaking that the remaining 2,2 percent would also be paid at some stage.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said management would meet Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda to approve the additional 1,5 percent rise to bring the increase to 10 percent.

He said the money would come from within the SABC.

"We are not going to the minister to ask for money," he said. "We will get the money from within the SABC. We will see where we will prioritise to get the money."

Kganyago said demands for managers to be dismissed were not part of the dispute with the workers.

"The SABC has asked Parliament to institute an investigation into financial mismanagement and a host of other allegations," he said.