No salaries for 24 guards at school over past two months
"They had to resort to sleeping at school due to a lack of transportation money and fears of being fired from their jobs."
Twenty-four security guards employed at a school in Soshanguve claim that a company used by the Gauteng Department of Education hasn’t paid their salaries for two months now.
The security officers at the Filadelfia secondary school said they had to resort to sleeping at school due to a lack of transportation money and fears of being fired from their jobs.
MEC Panyaza Lesufi visited the school in question last year August following allegations of poor management, sexual harassment by teachers and learners bringing alcohol and drugs to school.
After the visit, the department hired a security company called Urban Watch to take over from a previous company.
On Monday, the security guards demanded that they be paid their salaries.
The guards said they only received their December salaries on 25 January and they have not received any salary since.
South African Cleaners, Security and Allied workers Union (SACSAU) national organiser Andries Diphapang Potsane said what was happening to their members at the school was “not fair”.
Potsane said their members were being exploited.
“Every month when they are supposed to get their salaries, they are instead told that the department hasn’t paid the company yet. It is very painful.”
Potsane said six of their members were suspended in January; however, procedures were not followed.
“Procedures were not followed and they were suspended without any hearing or talks.”
He said their members went on strike because “that is the only language the government understands”.
“In Edenvale and Germiston, we are having the same problem.
“We want the department to intervene.”
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A representative from Urban Watch declined to comment on the issue.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Oupa Bodibe said the department was aware of the unpaid security company service provider at the school.
“The delay in payment was caused by administration issues that have since been resolved,” he said.
“As soon as these issues have been resolved, payment will be made.”
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