Scores of security officers attached to various Home Affairs offices in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Mpumalanga have accused their employer of exploitation and failing to allow them their overdue leave days for more than three years.
The workers, estimated to be more than 300 and whose identities are being withheld for their protection, have also allegedly not being paid on time for months.
Some say they are suffering from long-term illnesses as a result of being required to work long hours without their leave days being approved, even though that was against the labour laws.
The employees say that after numerous meetings and attempts to get the company to heed their calls have gone unanswered. Many want to quit but find it difficult to do so as they would be without an income.
“Please help us. We are under serious strain because we have not been allowed to take leave for three years now. I am sick as a result of working non-stop. Sometimes, we do not get paid our full salaries. We have to pay for our uniforms from our own pockets. We really do need help from you,” said one worker.
“Even now I am sick. My legs, my back and headaches are bad and I am always tired. It has been two years without leave,” she said.
The guards, who work for Intense Protection and Tourist Services (IPTS Security), a private security company contracted by the Department of Home Affairs in most of the branches in KZN, want their complaints to be attended to as a matter of urgency.
Other issues levelled against the company include termination of employment without following due processes.
The Star has seen a letter, dated June 26, in which an employee’s contract is terminated.
“You are hereby notified about the decision taken by the directors of IPTS that your employment is terminated with immediate effect from the date of the written contract. The decision was taken after considering the recommendations of the chairperson, who chaired your disciplinary enquiry on the 3rd of May 2024 held at the Department of Home Affairs Amajuba,” the letter reads.
Another employee said that whenever there was a problem, employees were dismissed without a warning.
Another employee told The Star that she was constantly on anti-depressants, energy drinks and other pick-me-ups in order to continue working.
“We are highly exploited here as we are being denied our leave days. There is more than 400 of us in KZN and Mpumalanga offices. We are not allowed to take our leave days for three years now and this is unlawful. The Department of Home Affairs knows about our cries but have done nothing to help us. Even our salaries are being withheld and paid late or short,” she said.
“Another big issue in this company is that they do not give you a warning. You get fired even for small things without being given a warning; they simply find a way to fire or get rid of you,” another employee said.
On the issue of unpaid bonuses, The Star has seen a memo from a meeting between IPTS and labour union, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), on July 24, over non-payment of annual bonuses due to workers.
“The union is of the view that this is not a settlement proposal, but rather a compliance and alignment to the main collective agreement of the National Bargaining Council for the private security sector. Satawu accepts the company proposal to align and comply with the main collective agreement,” it said.
Attempts to get comment from James Milanzi, the IPTS head of security, were unsuccessful at the time of going to publication.
The spokesperson for the department in KZN, Cyril Ncwabe, said his department was not involved in the employer/employee issues at IPTS Security, adding that it was not the duty of the department to get involved.
“I am not sure if you have done your research about this matter. We, as the department, did not hire those employees. They are hired by IPTS Security, and the department pays this company for services it renders to the department. You should be addressing these allegations to the company involved,” he said.
The Star