Three months without payment, families suffer

THIS is the third month that ADM Security staff guards currently working for AbaQulusi Municipality have still not been paid.

This conflict between these security guards and the municipality has left many of the security guards feeling more devastated than angry, as there seems to be no light at the end of their tunnel.

Last week the Vryheid Herald was approached by an emotional female security guard who said that they were tired of being sent from post to pillar with no conclusion.

This woman, who is a mother of two, said that she was currently staying at a place she rented in Bhekuzulu and times are getting tougher.

“I am currently unable to even buy food, let alone pay rent as there is still no word on whether or not we will get paid.

My children are suffering badly and I have had to send the youngest to live with her father, as I currently cannot put food on the table for both of them. I also haven’t paid rent in the past two months and I think that I might get kicked out from where I stay any day now,” the woman said between sobs.

According to this security guard, things have got very sour between the Municipal Manager and ADM workers.

“The reason why we are still here is that our employer at ADM Security informed us that we won the case against the municipality and thus they had to pay us as our contract with them had not been terminated.”

When the MM informed us about this new company (LK Security) coming to work for the municipality, she promised us that we would not lose our jobs, but that we would all be recruited under LK Security. It was with great shock that we met the new security guards from LK who had come to start working on the 15th of July,” this woman said.

Shocked and confused by this, ADM Security staff then took to the MM’s office to ask about these new security guards.

The MM is said to have denied any knowledge of these new security guards despite being provided with copies of papers proving that she had signed off the deal with LK Security.

“This is really not fair because we have been working all along. We are people too, we have needs and families to provide for,” the woman said in conclusion.

The ADM security guards were told that their matter would have to be discussed by council and that they would thereafter be informed of a way forward.

Until this happens, many other families depending on these salaries will be without food and other basic needs awaiting their breadwinners to get paid.

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