Complaints by employees against their employers, who have businesses in the Laudium area, continue especially from those in the security sector.
Following the publication recently of a number of complaints by security guards who were posted in the Laudium/Erasmia area to guard houses and businesses, many residents have expressed their concerns. Questions were asked as to how the very same guards, who were meant to protect their families and properties could effectively carry out duties, when they were unhappy in their jobs due to poor salaries and treatment received from their security bosses.
In one of the latest complaints, a security guard who visited the offices of the Laudium Sun in Laudium, Godfrey Makina, a former employee of the locally based security company Cops Tactical, expressed his frustration over unpaid wages and alleged exploitation.
Godfrey alleged, “I’m really disappointed with my boss AK and the company. They refused to pay my salary for an entire month—from December 25, 2023 to January 26, 2024. Since then, each time when I enquired about my outstanding salary, I was given different excuses. I could not bear it anymore that I was cheated for one month, so then I decided to rather resign with the hope that I would be paid all monies due to me. Although I resigned from the company on January 31, 2025, I have still not been paid the salary that has been due to me for over a year, which amount is R2,800.”
Makina explained that he joined Cops Tactical on December 19, 2023 and worked until the end of January 2025. “When I joined the company, they promised to pay me for the training period as well, but I never received any payment—not even for the full month I worked. Every time I asked about my salary, they ignored me and avoided giving a clear response.”
As a Zimbabwean national, Makina believes he was targeted due to his vulnerable immigration status. “They know I’m not South African and can’t easily go to the CCMA or the Labour Department, for under paying me and treating me unfairly. I was earning less than R 3000 as a security guard and working long hours without earning extra. They hired me for cheap labour paying less than half what they are supposed to be paying and then took advantage of me, knowing I have limited rights here.”
Makina said that he had now turned to the Laudium Sun in the hope of getting justice. “No one has helped me so far. That’s why I came here—to tell my story publicly and fight for the one month of salary I’m still owed.”
Following allegations made by the former employee Godfrey, the Laudium Sun reached out to Cops Tactical at their office on Tangerine Street, Laudium for a response.
Shireen Aboobaker, the accountant for Cops Tactical, stated, “I cannot comment on the allegations made by our former employee, Godfrey Makina, without first reviewing our financial records. Since the issue dates back over a year, I will need to check our books to verify whether he was paid in full or if any amount is still outstanding. However, based on our internal records, when he resigned from the company on January 31, 2025, we believe all dues were settled. He formally submitted his resignation, which was accepted. Generally, once a resignation is processed and accepted, there should be no outstanding financial obligations unless otherwise noted.”
Abdul Kader Musa Mahomed, commonly known as “AK” and the owner of Cops Tactical, also commented briefly, “I was not aware that Godfrey Makina has been claiming that he wasn’t paid for a full month. If there is any amount owed, we will ensure it is paid. For further details, I would advise you to speak directly with our accountant, who handles all salary matters.”
Mahomed, known as “AK,” said he was
unaware of the non-payment issue and referred salary matters to his accountant.