Lolo Madonsela
Employees of a local security company are frustrated over alleged non-payment of their salaries.
Security guards hired by the company said they were ‘tired of not receiving their salaries on time’ and wanted their employer to be exposed for ‘ill treatment’.
Speaking to the Vryheid Herald on condition of anonymity, for fear of victimisation, the employees said, “It is now January we still have not received our December salaries. We never get paid on time and we do not even get pay slips.”
The security guards claimed this was their second year working in such conditions and they were often required to work 25 days in a month for 12 hours, with no leave.
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“It is very strenuous. We are working on autopilot most of the days because we are tired from not resting. Since we are servicing AbaQulusi Municipality, we are hoping those higher up in the municipality might be able to intervene. There is nothing more painful than waking up every morning or night to go to work, not knowing if you will get paid, let alone to know on which day you will get your salary.”
Security guards added, “Even during the holidays we were working, yet no overtime money is paid to us. This is our third year working here, but we are still earning the same salary we did when we first joined the company. Whether you work day or night, carry a gun or not, the salary is the same. We have complained to them about this whole thing but there has been no change. We do not even know how much we make per hour. This is very painful to us; we are really suffering.”
Not being paid on time had created other problems, the guards alleged. They claimed landlords would not allow them to rent property due to the risk of lease money not being paid on time.
“We are just looking for anyone who may be able to assist us in this situation.”
Attempts to get speak with the company manager, Khulekani Mkhize proved fruitless. He did not answer his phone and at the time of going to print, had not returned voice messages left for him.
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