Woodstock Hospital security guards axed on short notice
Security company director says he has no money to pay them
About 20 security guards gathered at Woodstock Hospital on Thursday demanding an explanation for the sudden termination of their contracts with Franschhoek Estate Security company.
Woodstock Hospital was unlawfully occupied in March 2017 by housing activists Reclaim the City. Director of the security company Adam Cloete said they were contracted by the Department of Transport and Public Works to guard the premises, but that the department had not paid them on time.
“The contracts for the security guards at Woodstock Hospital will be terminated as from 1 October 2018. I have no money for paying them. I am only paying some of them today and others tomorrow. I am sure everyone will be paid by the weekend,” said Cloete.
The security guards said they were informed on Wednesday that their contracts were terminated. Cloete confirmed this with GroundUp on Thursday.
The security guards also said their salary payments were delayed, with payment in August being made on the 29th instead of the normal date of 25th. They said they have not yet received their salary for September and that management did not explain the delay to them.
“How can management come from nowhere and say our contract is terminated?” said Nocawe Mjayezi from Khayelitsha, who has been with the company for six months. “How are we going to survive? We have no plans at the moment. They have not yet paid us up to now.”
Sonwabile Mphetshi has been with the company for a month and was supposed to be on duty on Friday. “The sudden wave of events has landed me in a very difficult situation,” said Mphetshi. “I do not know what to do now. Where am I going to get money for rent and food?”
Spokesperson for the department Jandré Bakker said they had complied with Treasury Regulations. “All payments due to creditors must be settled within 30 days from the receipt of an invoice submitted by a service provider,” said Bakker. “The Department is compliant with this Treasury Regulation in respect of the payments to Franschhoek Estate Security.”
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