Dika Security Services (DSS) employees were left fuming when their May salaries were paid and each only received R127.36.
The more than 20 security staff members said not only were they paid late, but their salaries fell short by more than R4000.
Security guards, who are placed at provincial department of health offices in Bhisho, claim they had been complaining about late and inadequate payments by the company since December last year.
DSS owner Iris Makhanya said she had communicated with the staff that the incorrect salary deposits were human error.
“Payments were late because the department of roads and public works only paid out last Friday and the finance lady is bereaved and under stress, so she made a mistake when processing payments.
“She had since been off so there was nobody available to process payments.”
The rest of the workers’ salaries were eventually processed yesterday.
Employee Khanyisa Ndamase said the recent incident was the last straw.
“We are parents, we have responsibilities. How can they make us wait long over due for our salary only to pay us R127.36? How does she think we are coming to work?”
Khanyisa Bambatha, also an employee, said they had unsuccessfully attempted to make a stand by protesting. “We stayed away hoping that our invisible director would come and address our concerns, but that never happened.”
Phaphama Mabuya said they were sinking in debt to make ends meet.
“We cannot afford to get to work because we have not been paid. We cannot afford not to go to work because we’ve been threatened by the department not to stay away. We are always borrowing money and it’s demeaning.”
South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union provincial administrator Ncebakazi Sikhutshwa said the union was aware of the problems with the company and they are engaging with Makhanya, who blamed the department of public works for late payments.
“Mrs Dika told the union she had been paying the staff from her own funds, which have since ran out as the department is the one who is delaying with payments.”
Public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile confirmed that the department had engaged with Makhanya.
“As the department we are shocked to learn of this because we have paid the company as stipulated in our contract, within 30 days of submitting their invoice and time sheets and we have never made a late payment.
“We will not tolerate a company that blames the government for its failures and we have already terminated a contract of another company with the same problem.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Bhisho blamed in R127 pay dispute
The more than 20 security staff members said not only were they paid late, but their salaries fell short by more than R4000.
Security guards, who are placed at provincial department of health offices in Bhisho, claim they had been complaining about late and inadequate payments by the company since December last year.
DSS owner Iris Makhanya said she had communicated with the staff that the incorrect salary deposits were human error.
“Payments were late because the department of roads and public works only paid out last Friday and the finance lady is bereaved and under stress, so she made a mistake when processing payments.
“She had since been off so there was nobody available to process payments.”
The rest of the workers’ salaries were eventually processed yesterday.
Employee Khanyisa Ndamase said the recent incident was the last straw.
“We are parents, we have responsibilities. How can they make us wait long over due for our salary only to pay us R127.36? How does she think we are coming to work?”
Khanyisa Bambatha, also an employee, said they had unsuccessfully attempted to make a stand by protesting. “We stayed away hoping that our invisible director would come and address our concerns, but that never happened.”
Phaphama Mabuya said they were sinking in debt to make ends meet.
“We cannot afford to get to work because we have not been paid. We cannot afford not to go to work because we’ve been threatened by the department not to stay away. We are always borrowing money and it’s demeaning.”
South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union provincial administrator Ncebakazi Sikhutshwa said the union was aware of the problems with the company and they are engaging with Makhanya, who blamed the department of public works for late payments.
“Mrs Dika told the union she had been paying the staff from her own funds, which have since ran out as the department is the one who is delaying with payments.”
Public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile confirmed that the department had engaged with Makhanya.
“As the department we are shocked to learn of this because we have paid the company as stipulated in our contract, within 30 days of submitting their invoice and time sheets and we have never made a late payment.
“We will not tolerate a company that blames the government for its failures and we have already terminated a contract of another company with the same problem.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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