Sanco points fingers at management practices at Daveyton Association for the Physically Disabled

Members of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) picketed outside the Daveyton Association for the Physically Disabled (DAPD) recently over several issues.

Beneficiaries inside the premises, in turn, held up placards with slogans like ‘hands-off DAPD’, ‘SANCO leave DAPD alone’ and ‘DAPD beneficiaries are happy’, while the EMPD and police kept an eye on the situation.

According to Ward 71 Sanco chairperson Fana Dube, the protest was in response to complaints from former employees and beneficiaries about management, in particular the centre manager, Kwanele Mbense. Sanco handed over a memorandum to the centre.

Some of the allegations that were brought forward by Sanco, employees and beneficiaries include the misuse of the organisation’s vehicle, beneficiaries being fed rotten food, corporal punishment, donations being mishandled and the dismissal of employees without consultation.

A former security guard, Benjamin Shabalala, claimed he was fired without warning or pay following suspicions that he called Godfrey Mokoena, a member of the community, in December to capture evidence of the staff loading food into the association’s vehicle, which is meant for learner transport, to take these donations to their own homes.

It is alleged on that day, the manager and some of his staff then assaulted Mokoena and cleared his phone.

The Daveyton SAPS confirmed that a case of common assault is being investigated.

These are DAPD’s responses to the various allegations as received from Kabelo Motshwene, board secretary.

Staff were loading the vehicle with donations of food to take to their own homes.
“The centre provides surplus food to needy families in the community and this is done when there is surplus food and to avoid food being spoilt if stored for long.”
Mokoena’s phone was cleared after he was assaulted.
“We don’t know what happened to Mokoena’s phone but we suspect that it might have been damaged during his violent assault on the manager.”

SANCO members said they organised a meeting in January with board members to discuss some of their concerns and apparently during that meeting it was discovered that board members were clueless about some of the fired employees.
“The manager provides frequent reports to the board on administrative matters of the organisation including staff issues.
“Like all other administrative matters, the board has reported on the changes in staff complement and reasons. Only one employee was dismissed.
“The security guard was dismissed due to being found to have assisted Godfrey Mokoena during an incident which resulted in the assault of the manager. The previous workshop supervisor, Mduduzi Nhlanhla, left the centre after his contract ended in July 2023.
“The kitchen staff member, Gladys Ncipha, was placed on suspension with full pay on March 4, pending a human resource process.”

The manager hits some of the learners as a form of punishment.
The centre refuted claims of corporal punishment stating that they’ve had no such incidences in the past.

Beneficiaries are fed rotten food donated by a well-known retailer.
“We dispute allegations that the centre serves spoilt or rotten food. We had previously dealt with a complaint from beneficiaries that food that was not well cooked was served. The centre frequently receives donations from retailers, and we ensure that these donations are still within their usable state.”
The manager is using the centre’s vehicle for his benefit while learners are walking to school or use other modes of transport to get to the centre. The manager told staff the vehicle is not roadworthy.

“The manager utilises the vehicle to attend meetings with the Department of Social Development, stakeholders, donors and other parties. The vehicle, which is a nine-seater, was not bought to transport our 52 beneficiaries. It is used for meetings and home visits by the social worker and supervisor. A vehicle previously sponsored by DSD, a 22-seater was hijacked in 2015 and never recovered.

“The treasurer organised transport with the Benoni Taxi Association and costs are covered by beneficiaries.”

A 26-year-old beneficiary claims he was told not to return to school because he was siding with Sanco members. He alleged that a few days before the protest, he was fed rotten milk and when he spoke out he was attacked. Another learner, a 27-year-old, said he was told not to come to the centre again because he was influencing other beneficiaries.

“The centre has not expelled, suspended or prohibited any beneficiary from attending. The centre has a code of conduct which every beneficiary has to abide by.
“One of our staff members witnessed a verbal exchange between some beneficiaries, in which words like ‘sell-outs’ were used. The code of conduct for beneficiaries guides us to intervene when there are transgressions which can lead to instability and an unsafe environment.”

Beneficiaries are now forced to pay a joining fee of R250 and a monthly fee of R150.
The centre said its current subsidy and other income are not enough to cover costs.
“Management has undertaken various cost-saving measures and is raising donations to alleviate the financial situation. Based on advice from DSD, the board discussed and approved the reintroduction of joining and monthly fees, in October 2023. We are not forcing but reintroducing the common practice. We arranged for beneficiaries who are financially strained.”

In conclusion, Motshwene said the centre is aware of a board member who mishandled a financial donation for the 2023 year-end function and that the matter was presented to the board and steps have been taken.

DSD
Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the MEC of Social Development said the department has assigned a team of social workers to assess the allegations and will respond as soon as the investigation is completed.

Also Read: Daveyton Association for the Physically Disabled still going strong

Also Read: ‘Disability not end of the world’