CoE to insource guards and cleaners

Kwatsaduza – The Ekurhuleni council adopted the motion to directly insource thousands of security guards and cleaners initially outsourced.

The motion was adopted during the October ordinary council meeting on Thursday. The guards will be insourced into the metro’s personnel over a multi-year transitional period.

Currently, the city outsources its security services through over 100 contracts with service providers, costing it R2b annually.

ActionSA said the metro had paid an average of R16 500 per security guard, while the guards themselves received as little as R4 500 as a salary monthly.

“Our approach in this matter was to find a means of offering these contract workers the dignity of fair pay, stable employment and benefits available to metro employees,” the party stated.

Responding on behalf of the ANC caucus, chief-whip of council Jongizizwa Dlabathi said they welcome the comprehensive outcome of the feasibility study.

“We believe in the progressive building of internal capacity to ensure the sustainable provision of basic services while reducing outsourcing,” he said.

Dlabathi said the metro missed an opportunity to address the progressive building of internal capacity when it awarded the contested security tender, which could have absorbed a reasonable number of personnel permanently.

“Be that as it may, we accepted the recommendations to develop a multi-year funding model and clear the limitations associated with insourcing.

“We further welcome the commitment by the Leader of Government Business, MMC Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, that these recommendations will be addressed through the budget processes, with a report provided during the tabling of the 2023/24 Integrated Development Plan and Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework.”

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