Sabuthwa Investment is a company that was launched last year and they promote a machine card (speed point) for businesses. However, former employees who worked for the company are not happy about the way things unfolded when they were still part of the company.
Sphamandla Zwane, who used to work for the company as a sales agent, says he is not happy about the way his previous employer treated him. “It’s been three months now without getting my payment and on top of that, I have been fired from the company. One thing I need is to get my money back,” Zwane said. He also stated that, at first, they used to be partners with the owner of the company, but as time went by, he became an employee (team leader) and would get paid depending on the amount of work done; they would send invoices in order to get paid. “There was a time when our former boss mentioned that he was going to take out insurance for us, as employees, and that would be taken from our money. We agreed, because having insurance is the right thing to do. It came as a surprise to me when I learned that he never took out any insurance, but would still deduct insurance money when we sent out invoices. I want to know what happened to my insurance money! I also recall a time where the company’s vehicle was repossessed because he was behind with the car’s payment for about three months. What has he been doing with the money if he cannot pay for the valuable assets of the company? At some point, we had to take care of the car and pay for petrol from our own pockets so that we were able to continue working. Many of the workers are scared to speak out, but I am not because I want my money.”
Sakhile Zulu, who also used to work for the same company, commented that, “I stopped working for the company due to not being paid; I have not received the money I worked for in months. There are a lot of things that were not going how they were supposed to in that company. At first, he (the owner) promised that he would pay us our money back, but now he ignores our calls and texts. I still need my money for the months I worked for that company.”
Sabuthwa Investment owner Elvis Zulu was contacted by the Vryheid Herald and he commented that, “I have told these guys what they should do if they want their money back. They left the company because they thought we were shareholders, while they were just employees like everyone else. In every company, there are rules and conditions that employees must follow, but they decided to neglect those rules and do what they thought was right and suited them. They would do things the other employees didn’t do; they would not report to work and used very strong language. I worked with them first, as I viewed them as my brothers and so that they could have a little cash for themselves, but this is what they do to me – they just want to drag my company’s name through the mud. I have been getting a lot of phone calls from their family members, threatening me, but I cannot change my principles just because I want to accommodate them.”
Sphamandla mentioned that the total amount they are owed by Elvis is R17,000, which Elvis agreed is the correct amount, but deductions have to be made and Sphamandla is very much aware of that. “They can email the project manager or myself the invoices of the right amount after they have made the deductions; then we can take it from there,” Elvis concluded.
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