Durban - The security employees of R K Khan Hospital say they want another company to take over as they have had enough of the “poor” management rendered by Mafoko Security Patrols, and are calling for their immediate removal.
This comes after the disgruntled security guards embarked on strike action againstMafoko Security Patrols outside of the hospital’s premises at R K Khan Circle Arena Park in Chatsworth on Friday.
The security personnel presented a memorandum which listed their grievances. On their list was an hourly rate of R20.95, a reduced basic salary of R4 358, deductions of R326 towards a provident fund which they say is unaccounted for, and inconsistency in payment dates.
According to Vuyisani Luphindo, who works for the Mafoko Security Patrols and is a shop steward, the company has not been co-operative since it took over the security services at the hospital.
“They told us that they received a contract with the Department of Health, which was for area three, whereas we are area 1 in Ethekwini, but that payment rate was incorrect for us. They told us to wait until the matter was sorted with the district offices in Pietermaritzburg, so we waited, but they have not addressed the issue still.
“They took our provident funds in the first month of assuming office and take R326 every month, which they claim to keep at Alexander Forbes. When we went there to investigate for ourselves, it turned out those were lies,” said Luphindo.
He added they would not back down until these issues had been addressed.
Another security guard, Martin Motete, who has been working at the hospital for 10 years, said he had never experienced any difficulties with the previous companies that were contracted by the hospital.
“We do not have any contract signed with them. They always promise to bring us the contracts so that we can have everything clearly in writing but they still don’t. The number of hours we work are not in line with our salaries,” he said.
Motete said that he did not want to have any more discussions about this but just wanted the company to go.
He said it was difficult to feed his family as he is often left without enough money to take care of all his needs.
“The worst experience was in December, when we needed our salaries more than anything, but instead got paid on the 5th of January,” he said.
Spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Ntokoza Maphisa, said the matter raised in the media inquiry was between a private security company and its employees, and encouraged the publication to direct its enquiries at the owner of the company.
“The department has its own contingency measures to mitigate the impact of potential disruptions to normal operations,” said Maphisa.
Mafoko Security Patrols has not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE