By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The firing of the guards belonging to Kya Guards was considered unfair by the 140 guards affected.
According to one of the sacked guards, Mzwandile Dlamini, who said he was angry, their company fired them without warning.
The guards were stationed at the Joburg Marketplace in City Deep.
Dlamini said that on January 21, 2023, they reported to work as usual at 4:45 AM and started their daily duties.
” Then in afternoon when we knocked off at 16:45 after handing over the working equipments, our managers came on site and asked for a short-notice meeting with the workers.
“In that meeting they told us that the client doesn’t need us here at Joburg Market premises anymore with immediate effect and we must report at KG KYA GUARDS offices on the 22 January Sunday 2023.
“They said the contract had been terminated for us, but not for the company,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini said their disgruntlement started when “we wanted our money that the company is owing us”.
On the memorandum, they singled out reasons why their management were allegedly “always behind us”.
The memorandum, dated 1 December 2022, listed their grievances:
“Dear Management
1.We are asking for our annual bonuses of 2021 and 2022 as we never received any bonuses. We want to be paid bonuses within 7 days as from 1 December 2022.
2. We want an increase on our rate to be paid according to Psira Grade C which is R24.21 per hour and also be paid our back pay as Psira increased the rate last year 2021.
3. We must be paid premium allowance as it’s started on 2020, R175.00. In 2021, it was R270.00 and 2022 it was R439.00. We must be paid all the outstanding money.
4. We want fixed pay day to be paid on the 30th of each month and if the 30th will be on a weekend we’re asking you to pay us on Friday of that month.
5. We want to know our Provident fund that is paid by receiving statements of provident funds.
6. We want to know if our UIF is registered on UIF because it’s not appearing on UIF department.
7. Tax must be deducted according to SARS by law Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and also send it to appear at SARS.
8. We want an increase on firearm allowance, and get paid according to our firearms (Handgun, Shotgun and Riffle)
9. Night shift allowance must be added.
10. Overtime to be paid according to Psira from 18th days of each month and above the rate per day will be overtime which is 1 and half day(s).
11. Other employees are not registered and don’t have company numbers. (Some security officers are working without having Psira Certificates; this problem must be resolved.”
They also hired new securities (guards) as if they have a new site, only to find out that those security Officers they’ve hired are the one’s who’ll replace us. We heard that those new securities have paid an amount of R850,00 as bribery for job employment.”
Kya Guards was not approached for comment at the time of going to press.
