Residents up in arms over working conditions
RESIDENTS of the Siqalo informal settlement, who work for Silver Solutions, a company that collects porta-loos in the area, burnt tyres and blockaded a portion of Jakes Gerwel Drive yesterday.
The protest was about their working conditions, said Yandisa Pempele.
“We are not getting paid well and when we ask the owner Nothemba Ncoliwe, she tells us she doesn’t have money; we can’t even take leave. The little money we get gets deducted,” she said.
She said they had been trying to talk to Ncoliwe, but she refused to listen.
Pempele said they decided to protest and block the road so they could be heard.
Thomas Mbakuse, who also works for Silver Solutions, said their lives were in danger every time they returned from work.
“The trucks that transport us don’t even have functioning head lights and that puts us in danger every day,” he said.
Mbakuse said they had been talking to their employer and she never did anything to improve their working conditions.
He said even the gear they wore to protect themselves while working was not in a good condition.
The community joined in the protest, saying they understood what their neighbours were going through.
Community leader Thandokazi Zayedwa said they were participating in the protest in solidarity of community members.
She said people became sick because of the work they did and their employer did not do anything to assist them.
She added they would continue with the protests until they got what they are asking for. The community did not want to work with Ncoliwe.
Ncoliwe said she could not comment as her company was a sub-contractor.
Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said protesters closed the road, throwing stones and damaging a traffic light control box and a city vehicle.