KNYSNA NEWS - Security guards and cleaning staff deployed by Dephetogo, a company that provides these services to Knysna Municipality, have been on strike for the past two weeks, due to delayed annual bonuses that were expected at the end of October.
Tensions have escalated as several workers involved in the action were reportedly suspended, heightening friction between employees, the company and the municipality.
Their suspension could not be confirmed at the time of going to press.
Knysna Municipality has confirmed that its payments to Dephetogo are fully up to date. Despite this, employees and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), representing the affected workers, allege that the company has failed to meet its contractual obligations regarding annual bonuses.
Numsa issued an ultimatum to Dephetogo demanding a resolution. In a letter addressed to company management, Numsa official Mteteleli Mandeka stated, "It came to my attention that your company failed to pay the qualifying employees their annual bonuses on 31 October."
The letter further highlighted that the company had "failed to comply with Clause 8, subsection (1) and (2) on annual bonuses" as outlined in the Main Collective Agreement of the Security Sector.
In response to the strike, Dephetogo director general Vuyani Ngwenya issued a notice to employees on 19 November, urging them to return to work. The notice referenced a meeting held on 11 November between the company, security officers and Numsa representatives.
According to the notice, it was agreed that the company will give feedback on outstanding bonuses and when they will be processed in seven days.
"All outstanding bonuses will be paid together with the salary at the end of November," he notice reads. "All employees are to return to their respective sites as this will be detrimental to their employment. THIS IS AN INSTRUCTION, NOT A REQUEST."
Despite these assurances, the promised bonus payments did not materialise at the end of November, prompting affected workers to stage further protests at the municipal building. Some security guards have reportedly been suspended amid the ongoing unrest.
At the time of going to press, Dephetogo had not issued a public statement regarding the dispute. The company's response is anticipated to clarify its position on the delayed bonuses, the alleged employee suspensions, and the steps being taken to resolve the matter.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
