GroundUp reports that hundreds of security officers and cleaners working for 22 companies contracted to the City of Tshwane marched in Pretoria’s city centre on Wednesday, demanding permanent employment with the City.

The workers, led by the South African Cleaners, Security and Allied Workers’ Union (SACSAWU) and the Independent Democratic Union of SA (IDUSA), handed over a list of demands to the mayoral committee member for community safety, Grandi Theunissen. Sello Matloa, a security officer and SACSAWU shop steward, said security guards earned R5,000 a month at private companies, which was too little to maintain a family, and if the City took them onto its payroll the costs of the “middle man” would be scrapped. The unions claimed that the City resolved in 2018 to insource 4,000 security guards in three phases. Joshua Mudau, IDUSA organiser in Tshwane, said: “They must allocate funds for us. We also want a formal meeting with the City manager or the executive mayor. Some of us have been in the City for many years, and we feel this is unfair to us.” In a memorandum, the unions demanded that the City must implement the 2018 resolution, and ensure security guards were paid a living wage, with benefits such as medical aid, pension and leave. They gave the City 14 days to respond to their demands.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chris Gilili at GroundUp

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