Sexual harassment at Delta Park

An HBC Construction Ltd foreman has been accused of sexually harassing a community liaison officer on the site of Delta Park School. The harassment allegedly began in April.

In a statement presented to Ward 82 councillor Susan Stewart, the complainant said, “During the course of three months, [I] was being sexually harassed by [the accused], on the Randburg site. He verbally harassed me by making comments telling me what he would do to me, sexually. He would question me about my sex life. He would make inappropriate facial and hand gestures. He physically harassed me by touching my private parts, trying to kiss me. He would pick me up and try and grab me. When I tried pushing him away, he would laugh at me, or get aggressive. He approached me when I was alone in the office, and occasionally in front of a few workers on the field. I have feelings of anxiety and stress and am afraid to go back to site.”

In addition to these allegations, the complainant’s family stated that they had declined a bribe from HBC employees from the site not to pursue the case.

Delta Park School has undergone construction as part of an initiative from the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) and the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) involving the revival and improvement of 287 schools in the province. HBC was contracted as a joint venture contractor.

The GDID terminated the contract with HBC JV on 14 September following the findings of an investigation that was undertaken after scaffolding collapsed at the school, injuring two pupils and one adult as well as causing one pupil to have an epileptic seizure.

Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza confirmed the sexual harassment report and stated, “The alleged suspect was removed from site and [the] contractor assured [the GDID] that he would never return until the matter was fully investigated and concluded.” Despite this assurance Mayathula-Khosa confirmed, “On the day of the accident, we learned that the alleged perpetrator was back on site.”

Linden Police spokesperson, Captain Alex Vermaak stated, “The case has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if he will prosecute.”

The complainant stated that she had met with the site manager at the Department of Labour and was asked to return back to work in order to be paid her salary. She declined stating that HBC could not ensure her safety.

Managing director of HBC, Joseph Tshawe, has been phoned repeatedly since 18 September. He was reached on two occasions but declined to comment, saying that he was in a meeting. A message has been sent to his phone, and comment is awaited.

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UPDATE: Delta Park contractors axed