Sapo linked to labour broker

PARASTATAL BLAMES STRIKE, DISMISSALS

FINANCIAL records show that the South African Post Office Group (Sapo) has recently used a labour broker.

This is despite Sapo chief executive Chris Hlekane telling Parliament, and Sowetan, that the mailing and banking parastatal had cut ties with labour brokers.

“No, we are using temporary staff. We are not going back to the labour brokers,” Hlekane told Sowetan on March 19. Sowetan has seen the documents. The records show that on May 2 Sapo paid labour broker Vulavulani Technologies R661 060 and additional amount of R1.7-million was paid to the same firm on May 15.

Sapo spokesman Khulani Qoma said the labour broker was hired due to the strike that recently took place.

“Labour broking does not form part of our HR (human resources) policy,” he said.

“We have banished the practice with a view to offering meaningful employment. The current labour broking employees in our employ came in as a stopgap measure following the dismissal of the employees who embarked on an illegal strike.

“And we will terminate our relationship with the labour broking firm as soon as we have filled the vacant positions.

“We were compelled to close the capacity gap, which resulted from the illegal strike and the dismissals,” he said.

Responding on why a tender was not issued for labour broking, Qoma said: “Our procurement processes are flexible enough to allow for emergency procurement.

“No procurement processes were flouted in the appointment of the labour broking firm.”

SA Postal Workers Union spokesman Tutu Mokoena said Sapo’s response showed that Hlekane did not have his ear on the ground.

“Hlekane made public comments that there was no labour broker at Sapo.

“And, suddenly, he comes back and says there is now a labour broker at the company, ” Mokoena said.

“This shows he is a two-faced boss who gives varying responses to suit his requirements. Hlekane is clueless about his company. ”

Sapo and Sapwu had agreed a week ago to convert 593 workers into “permanent parttimers”. However, Qoma said the decision was being reviewed.

“We are taking legal advice on the validity of the agreement regarding the conversion of temporary workers into part-time permanent workers,” Qoma said.

Mokoena said tools would be downed at Sapo on Monday.

“If those employees do not get hired and that agreement gets reviewed, there will be a war in Sapo.

“This is because the discussion we had with the Sapo management was a waste of time and they took us for a ride.”

Mokoena said he was baffled that Sapo could reach an agreement with the union and then make a U-turn.

“This shows that Sapo wants to nullify the agreement and on Monday we intend to go on strike. This, however, will be determined by the meeting we will have with the members over the weekend,” Mokoena said. –

If those employees do not get hired, there will be a war in Sapo