Complaints by employees against their employers seems to be on the increase, as the Laudium Sun continues receiving such complaints, but more frequently.

The biggest industry whereby employees are disgruntled seems to be in the security sector, which is supposedly playing an important role within the community in preventing crime and safeguarding residents and their property. It is therefore of concern when security guards or their supervisors are disgruntled which can thus lead to a threat in the proper guarding of a client’s
interest. In one of the latest complaints received against a local security company, a former supervisor of SSS Security approached the Laudium Sun, with a complaint against his former company. Theo Naidoo who used to be a supervisor at SSS Security said that he was deployed at various posts including Sutherland Ridge, Centurion, Laudium and Pretoria West alleged that his former employer, Victor Govender had been ‘exploiting’ him and not paying him the initial agreed monthly salary. Theo further alleged to the Laudium Sun, “I worked at SSS for three years, but it has been on and off because of the disputes we used to have. However, recently in May, Victor called me and told me that he wanted me back at his company and as I was unemployed, I agreed to go back to work for him. I was given a company car that I used to transport workers and a company card that was loaded with R250 per day for petrol. But when the end of May came, I got paid only R3800 which was not the initial amount we agreed on, as we agreed on R10 000. Because I love my job I kept quiet and continued working however the similar thing happened in June when again my salary was cut. This time I only got paid R5000. My boss was also sending me threatening messages when I complained. That is when I decided to ‘take’ two screen monitors from his garage and sell them, so I could raise money to pay my debts. However Victor noticed that the screens
were missing and I confessed to taking it. As I had not yet sold it, I returned one monitor and kept the other one in my possession. Furthermore, I stopped going to work and did not return the company’s firearm, because how can I go to work were I’m being exploited.

Theo further alleged that the SSS company recruits security guards without PSIRA registration and also that Victor threatened him and sent someone in a white Polo to monitor him at his home in Lotus Gardens on one of the weekends in July, on a Friday. Before the Laudium Sun could approach
Victor on the allegations made by Theo, Victor and his partner Don made their way to the Laudium Sun to give their side of the story. Victor alleged, “This is a matter that has been handed to the police. Theo has been an employee of ours on and off and each time we fired him it was not on good accounts. We have found Theo sleeping on duty countless times. He stole from us and came to work drunk. Theo also pulled out a gun for one of my security guards who then out of fear resigned. The guard even sent me a WhatsApp message to this effect. I also got a complaint from a guard, Cliff about Theo. Recently we discovered that Theo was misusing the company funds meant for petrol, as he was the only one with the card, even making an unauthorized payment for R1900 and upon confronting him about his wrong doings, Theo started calling my wife, telling her that I have mistresses outside the marriage. At the same time, it is important to be mindful that Theo
is not okay in his head as he has suicidal thoughts.”

Victor emphasized that Theo should take accountability for all the wrong doings he has been doing in the company. He further questioned why the new supervisor used R250 in a day, but with Theo he claimed to be filling petrol two times a day, despite not patrolling any of the sites. Both employer and employee went to the police station in Pretoria West before the Laudium Sun visit to resolve the matter. It is believed that they reached an agreement that Theo would return the items taken the following day. However Theo did not return the items as per the agreement. A case of theft has been opened at the Laudium SAPS by Victor for theft against Theo.

At the Laudium Sun office, Victor and Theo agreed that Theo would hand the gun and monitor to Victor and that’s when Victor would give Theo his monies due. However Theo told his employer that, “You can keep my pay for yourself.” When asked why he did not want his money now, Theo told the Laudium Sun, “I feel it is pointless as Victor is well connected with the police unlike me.” Victor added that he was not prepared to take a loss and that he would deduct the unauthorized money, Theo used on the company bank card.