VOAH struck by division among workers and board

Concerned workers of Vosloorus Old Age Home (VOAH) has accused the current interim management of misinforming the public about the affairs of the home.

This follows the arrest and suspension of the centre manager Sechaba Mathenjwa.

The workers voiced their frustrations in an interview with Kathorus MAIL conducted with the VOAH board secretary Nthabiseng Jikeka, who is also tasked to run the day-to-day operations at the home.

Workers are blaming the board members for the continued challenges affecting employees and elderly residents. Issues include alleged abuse and dismissal of senior citizens, theft of groceries, blankets, natural gas and social grant money, unpaid salaries, removal of employees from the payroll and dismissal.

It has been over six months since the workers received their salaries. The last time they were paid was in March when they received half their salaries.

They explained that the board did not only fail to transform the situation at the home after suspending Mathenjwa, but is preventing its transformation.

The MAIL engaged with several workers of VOAH, who requested to remain anonymous.

According to the workers, the board was dissolved during a meeting with the Department of Social Services (DSD) and the Kunene brothers on June 20. They had to hand over in seven days, however, they refused to step down.

Board members include chairperson Michael Huma, deputy chairperson Vusi Mbatha, treasurer Cathrine Moshoadiba, deputy secretary Nthabiseng Jikeka and additional members Abram Modise, Lindiwe Nkosi and Livion Lukhele.

“The current board has managed to divide the employees. This affects workers in terms of unpaid salaries, an unhealthy working environment and the dismissal of workers, which further infringes on their right to expression.

“There are several workers who are not part of these cases against Mathenjwa because we believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty,” said one of the workers.

He said the DSD instructed the workers to elect an acting centre manager after the dissolving of the board. It was said a new administrator, chairperson and board would be elected for funds to be released by DSD, but that process ended with nominations because workers are divided.

What is happening currently is that they are mistreated and threatened, he explained.

“We want to express our views. We saw a lot of lies in terms of the R50 000 donations from the Botshelong clinic.
“In the article, they said all employees got paid which is not true. To be honest, it is a lie. Only a few workers got paid and the rest of the money was shared by the board members.

“On top of that, because of the division there are two groups supporting different sides. We are not on Mathenjwa’s or the board’s side, we are fighting for our rights,” he continued.

“We were not paid for three months, others for five months and more. We managed to enforce a settlement agreement at the CCMA and were requested to provide the number of days we reported for work.”

He said the problem of the organisation is its structure, adding that they do not know about claims that Mathenjwa mismanaged funds.

He shared that in February they were supposed to get paid but the organisation did not have money. It was only left with R150 000 on the account, which was deposited by the chairperson, centre manager and the secretary to Business Connections (BCX) that does the salary payments.

“In March when we were supposed to get paid, the board made the mistake of not announcing that the organisation does not have money to pay us that month. That is when the story of saying the centre manager misused funds started.

“The money was reversed from BCX with charges and it was withdrawn so that every employee gets R2 300, which we did get.

“The organisation said they will owe us the balance. I thought when they got the R50 000 donations the balance of our salary will be paid.”

He said they understood that the DSD would send funds after the board submits the required police clearance documents.

“The same board do not want to submit those documents. I do not know how many times DSD came to the organisation to have a private meeting with the board. The DSD says one thing and the board says another, and so things contunue as if everything is normal.”

Workers informed the MAIL that there is an elderly man who visited a friend at the centre who was chased away by the social worker.

“The law does not allow that because the home is for senior citizens. When you chase away an elderly person where do you expect them to go?

“There are safe beds at the home and currently there are 46 but the home can accommodate a total of 54 people. This means there is available space, but you find an elder is being chased away.”

Responding to allegations of unpaid salaries from the R50 000 donation, VOAH board secretary Jikeka confirmed that it is true that some employees were not paid. She said she only knew of five staff members who were unpaid after they went to the CCMA.

She engaged on the dismantlement of the board, citing that they will hand over as soon as an administrator is appointed as the centre cannot run without the board.

When asked about the seven days deadline to hand over after the board, she responded by saying they are still here until the administrator is appointed.

“The question is if the board is dissolved, what will happen to the centre? We are running the centre because there are still elderly who live here. After an administrator is found we will dissolve,” said Jikeka.

The board will also then appoint the centre manager before handing it over to the newly elected board.

Jikeka refused claims that the board failed to provide the DSD with documents that were requested, including police clearance. She said the police clearance documents were given to DSD.

She also disputed the allegations of abuse concerning an elderly who was allegedly assaulted.

On the dismissal of an elderly named Samson Moloi, she said Moloi was not one of their residents. He was there to visit somebody.

“You cannot sleep here for days as a visitor without paying. These people pay to stay here and they spend their own money, so you cannot come here and spend senior citizens’ money.”

Workers also accused the board of using the VOAH vehicle for personal purposes They said at times they would be told that there is no petrol when they have to transport the elderly to their appointments.

Jikeka repudiate the claims, she said there is no way they can run out of petrol because they receive the boarding and lodging payments from elderly residents.

Jikeka confirmed that she is aware of the challenge of theft of food. She said they are working on beefing up security because everything starts there.

“The strategy is that if you are found stealing the residents’ bread, we will open a case against you, but you will pay for it.”

She said they are managing to pay for electricity because they receive donations almost every week.

She said as the board they do not intervene in operations. She explained that as the centre manager you have been appointed by the board to oversee everything and where there is a problem you have to report it to them.
Recently one of the board members was arrested after allegedly gambling with at least nine social grant cards belonging to senior citizens at Carnival City.

Vosloorus SAPS media liaison officer Constable Nompumelelo Nhlapo confirmed that a case of fraud was reported at the Vosloorus police station.

According to Nhlapo the amount involved is R12 600.

The board member and treasurer of VOAH could not respond at the time the paper went to print.

The applications for an acting centre manager were open for the public to apply between September 27 and October 3.