EDITOR - I am a Zimbabwean employed as a guard by Elite Security based in Makhado. I joined the company 10 months ago. I work 12 hours night shift per day and I was promised a salary of R950 per month. My main worry is that I am getting paid in batches of say R170 or R300 every month, the company never pays me the full salary as a once off payment.
The company employs both Zimbabwean and South Africans. Currently there are seventeen Zimbabweans who are working for Elite Security. Zimbabweans work night shifts while South Africans work day shifts. Unlike foreigners, South Africans get a full salary and allowances every month. All Zimbabweans face the same treatment. We are earning less than R30 per day for the 12 hours that we work. Four Zimbabweans, namely Pianos, Normore, Chudumwa and Charles left the company recently without pay.
I went to the Department of Labour in Makhado to report the matter but I was chased away by two ladies whose names are Rebecca and Martha. They told me to go back to Zimbabwe. They said: We dont care what your problem is, just go back to Zimbabwe, you are all thieves.
Our supervisor is a Zimbabwean, unfortunately the guards thinks he is conniving with management for their ill treatment but the fact is he is also suffering as they treat him like any other Zimbabwean.
If a person is found dozing at work you pay a penalty of R50 to R150 and we dont get paid overtime for Sunday and Public holidays. Please can you make our plight public and help us to expose these injustices. WORRIED ELITE WORKER, Makhado
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