Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
CCID restructure: claims of violence
THE tensions among the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) security guards reached a new level yesterday when unionised members were shot at with rubber bullets.
As of March 1, Iliso Protection Services merged with the Phangela Group and took over providing more than 300 public safety officers to the CCID company that is tasked by the City of Cape Town to provide cleaning and security services in the CBD. One Movement leader Mmusi Maimane is a non-executive director at the company.
The existing staff were to be transferred from the old company to the new one, but many are allegedly unhappy with the new employment arrangements.
Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Demawusa) national treasurer Nadine Adams said their members reported to work on Friday at Grand Central Building Cape Town and Phangela site.
“They were faced with fellow armed employees.
“We already complained that these employees used by Phangela, namely the TSU team, provoke and intimidate other employees.”
She said they were shot at the workplace. Police arrived afterwards and members left to get medical assistance.
“Employees were shocked, scared and disgruntled. I also received reports that there are people from the EFF who joined and that CCID trailers were allegedly turned upside down.”
Earlier this month, the Weekend Argus reported that there were growing tensions between the existing staff and the new ones.
There were allegations that the Phangela Group brought in drivers to be taught by the senior drivers so that they could take over while others would be shown the door.
There are already disciplinary hearings against some securities and the matter is playing out at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and the Labour Court.
Adams said at disciplinary hearings their members are not allowed interpretation and no evidence of any wrongdoing are presented before them.
Maimane said as a non-executive director, he does not get involved with the day-to-day operations.
“If crimes or acts of racism are committed I will investigate these. We maintain the highest ethical standards for our clients and have had a valuable partnership with over 9 000 employees who in my history never raised any of such issues.”
Phangela Group CEO Charl Jacobs denied that they are sideline employees and said they are not planning to get rid of the old employees.
“Phangela Group is not unionised. Their issues were tabled at CCMA and Labour Court. We are still investigating (the shooting) but can place it on record that Phangela did not fire any weapons.”
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said they were aware of the shooting incident but the victims did not open criminal cases.
“The victims are encouraged to do their bit and register a criminal case for further investigation. The injured victims were transported by ambulance to a nearby medical facility for medical treatment.”