By OBAKENG MAJE
The security guards contracted to Gubis85 Security Solution stationed at Pudimoe Community Health Centre (CHC) down tools over non-payments. According to some of the security guards who refused to be named for fear of victimization, they have not received their salaries for two months.
“It’s been two months since we received our salaries and the company keeps changing the pole posts. The management alleges that they have not received their payments from the North West Health Department, so they won’t pay us.
“However, they expect us to come to work even though we have not received our salaries. The worst part, they even threatened to fire us if we are absent and that is so unfair. We cannot continue to come to work hungry,” our source said.
Meanwhile, the North West Health Department admitted that there was a glitch regarding payments to some of the service providers. However, the departmental spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said they have engaged with affected companies to come up with a lasting solution.
“We can confirm that the security guards in a number of our facilities had embarked on protest due to non-payment of their salaries. The affected facilities include Pudimoe CHC in Taung, Potchefstroom Hospital, and Klerksdorp- Tshepong Hospital Complex.
“We are unable to give a combined total figure at the moment, but there are outstanding invoices for 3 months that we have started paying. There have been several interruptions of the network in the provincial government system over the past few months and that has affected payments of many service providers,” Lekgethwane said.
He further said the department is trying its level best to resolve the crisis by the end of this week and many companies are going to be paid.
“Already, the matter has been communicated to the Security Directorate who indicated that they have processed the 3 months’ invoices for the security companies affected, but the invoices were delayed by the system. However, a late run has been done to pay the invoices.
“We have also spoken to the service provider who promised to use their own reserves to pay the outstanding one month of the two months they owe the security guards, while payments of invoices are in process,” said Lekgethwane.
It is alleged that the department has appointed the majority of security companies from outside while depriving local companies’ tenders. The North West Gatvol Business Forum chairperson, James Gadinabokao said: “We have raised questions about security tenders especially at the North West Department of Health, where out of 27 companies that received tenders, only three are from North West.
“We want tranquility in the province and all that we have raised should be adhered to. We initiated this process because we demand that the tenders and provincial government budget must benefit the people of the province.”
Gadinabokao further said they have engaged the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) coordinator, Hlomani Chauke to raise their concerns. Chauke said they were willing to find a way forward with any resident or group of businesspeople who have a concern that they do not get any businesses from the provincial government.
“We believe that anything that is happening should benefit the people of the province. We are aware that there are concerns that businesses are going outside the province. We will make sure from our side that we definitely support businesspersons in the province.
“However, as the leadership, we are not involved in the tender system and dictate which tender must be awarded to whom,” he said.
The Guardian 