Damning allegations against New Jerusalem Children’s Home

The Economic Freedom Fighters paid a visit to New Jerusalem Children’s Home in President Park, Midrand, on 8 March regarding allegations made against the home, Midrand Reporter reports.

EFF chief whip Sepetlele Raseruthe said that one of the founders of the home and ex-employees contacted the party because they feel the children’s home has not treated them well.

READ MORE: Fire destroys children’s home in Durban

New Jerusalem’s public relations and communications manager, Raymond Madibogo, has confirmed the visit from the EFF.

Madibogo said a senior employee who was in charge of the social welfare department of the home has been suspended.

In relation to the allegedly axed employees, Madibogo said no employees were axed because all the employees who claimed to be axed had reached the end of the contract.

About seven contracts reached their end on 28 February and therefore that is why they allegedly left.

“All employees were notified of the staff reduction as of November because last year we had two residential sections for boys while we were building the main joint section for boys,” said Madibogo.

“Because there is only one residential area for about 40 boys this year, we did not need as many staff members as we had before, therefore we allowed the contracts to run till they expired.”

Raseruthe made concerning allegations, that the home was allegedly hiring only foreigners now and no longer South Africans. Madibogo denied these allegations by stating that no employee has been employed ever since the contracts came to an end, and he further denied claims of employing only foreigners and not locals.

The suspended senior employee is allegedly the co-founder as well as the older sister to the remaining CEO of the home.

Madibogo said the suspension is not yet definite because the board has gone back to review the suspension with the aim to mend the family relations involved in the matter because both sisters have played a huge role in the development of the home and would like to continue the vision the two women had from the beginning.

The organisation held a hearing from 14 to 16 March and a decision is yet to be reached because the matter is a sensitive issue.

All discussions with the ex-employees have been fruitful because they now understand the terms of their contract and how it came to an end.

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/fire-destroys-childrens-home-in-durban/