NC hospital’s security guards go on strike

SECURITY guards at the Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington embarked on strike action yesterday, while security staff at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley also intend to go on strike next week, due to the non-payment of year-end bonuses.

The guards indicated that staff who had been employed for at least one year with Defensor Electronic Security Services qualified for a bonus.

“We are still waiting for outstanding overtime pay, for hours clocked in over the festive season last year. We have been threatened that we will lose our jobs if we go on strike,” the guards said.

Security staff who claim they were supposed to be suspended with full pay, said they had not received their salaries.

National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) branch secretary Moleme Moleme believed that the security contract that was concluded with Defensor Security was unaffordable.

“It also leaves workers vulnerable to abuse and unfair labour practices. We call on the Department of Labour to investigate non-compliance with labour laws. Security services should be in-sourced by the department.”

Spokesperson for the Department of Health, Lulu Mxekezo, said that Defensor Security had assured them that a contingency plan was in place to ensure that security services were not negatively affected at health facilities in the Province.

No response was received to a media enquiry sent to the attorneys representing Defensor Security by the time of going to print.