Security guards at Ermelo Provincial Hospital protested outside the hospital on 27 January.
According to a protester, they work for Blue Lion Security and a contract was signed between the company and the hospital.
They were disgruntled, because they had not received their salary on time.
Protesters locked the gates of the hospital with handcuffs earlier that morning.
Ms Phefi Mathobela, protester, said: “Not receiving my salary means my child is unable to go to school, because I did not pay school fees.”
She works strenuous hours and does not understand why she was not paid on time.
The hospital has not been paying protesters on the 15th of every month, as agreed, but rather any given date after the 15th.
This has been taking place since June last year according to protesters.
According to Ms Nompumelelo Simelane, another protester, she can not support her two children.
“I am unable to pay rent and the landlord wants to evict us.”
According to Ms Simelane, management of the hospital, met with the protesters later that morning and promised to pay them on 31 January.
She added: “I don’t know whether to believe them as this is not the first time we are paid late.
“They do not take us seriously nor respect us, because we are security guards.
“They treat us like dogs.”
Read the complete article in the next edition of the Highvelder Newspaper.
