Yet more complaints have been received by the Laudium Sun concerning aggrieved workers and in particular those working in the security sector.
This time, not only have the security guards complained, but some residents living in the prestigious Eldoglen Security Estate, have also complained about the management apparently ‘unilaterally’ firing the current guards who have been serving the Estate for a long time and who were apparently ‘doing a good job.’ It is believed that the majority of residents living in the Estate were previously living in the Laudium area.
This follows a strike last Thursday (Feb 13) by the security guards, outside the entrance of Eldoglen Estate on Willem Botha Avenue. The guards claimed that the management of the Eldoglen Home Owners Association (HOA) had, without proper consultation, removed the security guards, leaving them jobless, then hired a new company in their place.
The head of security at Eldoglen Estate, Johannes Ramolesana told the Laudium Sun, “The person who acts as the manager responsible for security in the Estate, on behalf of the HOA, Feroz Amod, wanted us out because they hired a new company called Noordvaal Security Services, which we believe was for his personal benefit. The new company was brought in the day before, Wednesday (Feb 12) and this has really affected us and our families, because all of us, including myself, depended on this job. Without this job we cannot support our family members. Feroz did not even notify us in advance that we would be losing our jobs. They suddenly announced that they had hired a new company and we were no longer in their service. How could they do this to us and treat us in this manner? We are human, we have families and after serving the estate for so long, is the way we should be treated? We are about 30 security guards who are now out of a job and this, despite not having done anything wrong. In fact, we have served the residents with utmost respect and dedication, but they still want to get rid of us. We are all dependent on this job, and we can’t afford to lose it. We are extremely disappointed, as they want to frame us for not following the PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulation Act) compliance training. We have completed all the necessary training, and the management just wants to cut us out for no reason. We want to expose Feroz, as we believe that he is making money by giving the contract to the new security company. Please help us, as we need this job to sustain ourselves and feed our families.”
One of the security guards who has been working for some time at the estate, Tiny Molala told the Laudium Sun, “We are now struggling because management told us to leave the job with immediate effect, even though we haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve been coming here for two days, but they said we can’t enter the premises because we’re no longer employed. They don’t want to speak to us or give us any reasons as to why they don’t want us here, and without any proper explanation, they cut us out of our jobs. I don’t even have money for transport to come for the strike, as I live in Atteridgeville. What Feroz and the management have done to me and my colleagues is absolutely wrong, and I believe God will punish them for it.”
Robert Malajila, another security guard from the estate, said, “I need my job back because I can’t live without it. I have my family at home, and I have children. What will my children eat? What will I tell my family members? The management is not being fair to us. We want the residents who are members of the HOA (Home Owners Association) to check the books. Why were we suddenly removed without explanation and what is Feroz benefiting by getting a new company?”
When approached for comment on the allegations made against him and the HOA of Eldoglen Estate, Feroz Amod told the Laudium Sun, “The statement given by the Eldoglen Estate Security workers is totally incorrect and baseless. The matter has been sent to court, and until there is a proper hearing from the court, I won’t be able to comment further on this matter. We didn’t remove the Eldoglen Estate security guards; they removed themselves from the job. They started acting inappropriately and stopped working on February 12. The issue is not related to wages or any unfair labour practices, but they served a notice to the management, and now the matter is at the CCMA. Eldoglen Estate didn’t have security for a couple of hours on February 12, so since no security was working on the estate, we temporarily hired a new company to carry on with the security. We haven’t hired a permanent security company yet, but we will consider one if Eldoglen Estate Security doesn’t want to follow the estate’s norms.”
