Students irate at treatment of cleaning staff

STUDENTS at the Zimbane campus of the King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College have raised concerns about the institution’s plan to outsource its cleaning contract rather than trying to negotiate with staff who have downed tools, citing a lack of cleaning material.

Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (Pasma) regional leader Solomzi Sompeta said they supported the decision taken by the general staff that they would only return to work when they were provided with cleaning materials and personal protection equipment (PPE) for their health and safety.

“The college has been misusing funds meant to look after the welfare of students and workers. There is a new company here hired to replace general workers who have been complaining about cleaning material. The only sin by general workers who are our brothers, sisters and mothers was to raise their voice over their dissatisfaction.”

Sompeta said their concern was that management had resolved to hire a new company instead of buying the materials the striking workers had requested.

College principal Zola Ndodana said the procurement of the materials and PPE were out to tender.

“We were just awaiting for the new financial year to begin so that we may be able to allocate funds to that. I don’t know why people always run to the media,” said Ndodana.

He would not say whether the plan to outsource the institution’s cleaning was a temporary solution or not.

He referred the rest of the questions to the campus head who had not responded to calls at the time of writing.