Region B workers protest over permanent jobs at Waterval Depot
"We are worried about what’s going to happen because we need these jobs."
Region B residents employed at the Pikitup Depot in Waterval for the past seven months took to the streets two weeks ago in a bid for permanent appointments at the depot.
One of the protesters, Antonette Bashing said that the group was made up of more than one hundred people who were recruited by Tedcor.
The group were subcontracted to Pikitup and after the three-month period lapsed, they were required to renew their contracts on a month-to-month basis.
Another employee, Edwin Brand said, “Last month, Tedcor sent us smses which instructed us to visit their Head Office in Braamfontein for registration in order that we may become permanently employed.
“On our arrival, we were informed that they didnt recognise Tedcor employees. We returned to the depot and told them what was said and the manager there told us that Tedcor has the list with our names on.
“We contacted Tedcor and they advised us that Pikitup had the list so we grew tired of going up and down. It costs us money that we don’t even have. We are worried about what’s going to happen because we need these jobs.”
Ayanda Sithembu explained that he was the breadwinner in his family and added that he needed this job in order for his family to survive. “There was no way but for us to strike because no one is helping us,” he said.
“They’re now taking on people who worked for Pikitup in 2010 and we don’t understand why they don’t just make us permanent. All those permanent staff at the depot are not even from Region B,” Sithembu continued.
Brendon Steenkamp, senior project manager at Tedcor said that Pikitup was doing the insourcing of staff and that Tedcor had no involvement in the process.
Muzi Mkhwanazi, media relations liaision at Pikitup, said, “The insourcing project is continuing and both former jozi@work and 2010 employees are currently undergoing the insourcing process.
“There is also a set criteria that has been put in place that former employees have to comply with prior to being insourced.
“The former Jozi@Work project operated in the entire City of Johannesburg. Consequently, there are huge numbers of such workers around the city, therefore, the need for criteria based on budget availability.
“The process has not been finalised and as a result, I cannot comment on the allegations that people from region B have not been insourced since the project has not been finalised.”
At the time of publishing, the Tedcor employees were still out of work.
