News24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called for Bosasa employees working at Department of Correctional Services (DCS) facilities to be absorbed by the department.
In a statement on Sunday, the union said the company's voluntary liquidation should not affect staff members. "They must all be absorbed by the DCS and continue doing the important work that they have been carrying out as they cannot be sacrificial lambs over an unfortunate situation not out of their own making. They will impart the necessary skills to inmates that will contribute to their rehabilitation. We want to categorically mention that no current DCS correctional officials must be diverted to work within kitchens as we have understaffing and overcrowding. This self-made dilemma should not result in any uncertainty and changes," Popcru said. The union also indicated that it had learned "with concerns" about alleged plans by some DCS area commissioners to change the shift patterns of employees to compensate for the loss of the Bosasa workers. Bosasa, now called African Global Operations, went into voluntary liquidation last week after its bank accounts were closed. Justice Minister Michael Masutha was due to "shed more light" on the Bosasa contracts at a briefing on Monday.
- Read the original of Sarah Evans’ report on this story in full at News24
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