Picture: Diphetogo Private Security Comapny employees barricade the municipality entrances/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The security officers are regarded as frontline personnel providing security in almost every facet of life in South Africa. However, most security guards continued to be exploited by their employers.
This was palpable yesterday in Taung after security guards from Diphetogo Private Security Company, which is contracted to the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), embarked on a violent protest citing unfair dismissal and non-payments.
They alleged the company continues to violate them and unfairly dismissed some of their colleagues. Therefore, the smooth-running of the municipality was affected after the disgruntled security guards down tools and barricaded all the municipal entrances with burning tyres and rocks.
One of the security guards who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “The company does not care about us. Even the managers here, told us to go and jump because there are so many people who are looking for a job. So, ill-treatment towards security guards compromises security.
“It is imperative for government to adopt security guards and pay them directly. This will assist to provide effective training and coherent registration of security guards and stop paying millions of rand to private companies,” he said.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Labour Desk administrator at the municipality, Mosimanegape Jafta said: “We joined the protest in quest of assisting these poor employees. The company continues to violate them and it is alleged that some employees were unfairly dismissed.
“They were allegedly fired without under-going any disciplinary actions. It is alleged that the company is also purging those who stand in solidarity with those who were fired. The company has sent them dismissal letters without any explanation.”
Jafta said the security guards’ job, is critical and they need to be treated better. He said most of them receive ‘diminutive’ salaries and wake up early in the morning at around 3am, while putting their lives at risk.
Re Aga Taung Civic Organisation (RATCO) chairperson, Modisaotsile Lebitse shared the same sentiments. Lebitse said even though the role of labour broking in the private security industry is permissible in the country, most of these companies go to rural areas, get lucrative contracts, but exploited their employees.
“Unfair labour practices especially in the security industry create a vicious cycle of poverty for others and unfortunately, the security guards bear the brunt of this variance.
“These security guards have also been reporting the unfair labour practices of their employers to the municipality, but they have been largely ignored. So, we call on the municipality to terminate the contract of Diphetogo Private Security Company with immediate effect,” he said.
Meanwhile, the municipal mayor, Oageng Seleke said he could not comment on the matter as they were still engaged in a meeting. Diphetogo Private Security Company management was also not available before publishing this article, but the meeting between all stakeholders is expected to take place on Thursday to find a ‘lasting solution’ to the matter.
The Guardian 
Their contract must be terminated with immediate effect, they are damaging State resources and they must confront their company for their salaries
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