Job seekers to pay R50 for applications

This was revealed after Dankow (Dan/ Nkowankowa Concerned Group) invited all the applicants for these jobs to an ‘induction schedule’ at Nkowankowa Stadium last week stating that an ‘R50 registration fee is compulsory and required’. Residents of Nkowankowa voiced their concerns about this R50 registration fee on social media. The Herald spoke to Park Malungane, president of Dankow, who said that the R50 fee covers administration and travel costs involved with these applications.

“We visited 34 villages and we estimate the total costs of recruiting 3000 workers at R80 000,” he explained. He also confirmed that Dankow is neither registered as a trade union nor a labour desk at the Department of Labour and Employment. “We need funds for administration and transport costs involved with gathering and verifying the information provided by the applicants. We also need funding in order to register as a union or labour desk,” explained Malungane.

Also read: Fruitful meetings held between Nkowankowa Concerned Group and business owners

Malungane also confirmed that Dankow has no bank account to bank the R50 fees and is currently being spent on copying costs at internet cafes, SMSes to applicants, and on food and transport. “We are in the process of opening a bank account,” Malungane explained. Peppadew International, the employer that is seeking 3000 female seasonal workers next year, stated that it has committed itself to working with representatives from local communities to cement relationships with the communities it operates.

“Peppadew made it clear from the onset that it will not engage in any unlawful act/s as part of the company’s relationship with Dankow. Rumours have it that Dankow allegedly charges members of the community R50 in order for Dankow to submit their names to Peppadew for potential employment in 2023,” said Helgard de Villiers on behalf of the employer. Peppadew distances itself from this practice, it was never discussed and or agreed upon at any of the meetings between Peppadew and Dankow. Peppadew confirms that to date it only received less than 1000 names of the potential 3000 opportunities that were offered to Danko,” De Villiers concluded.

Also read: Business owners threatened by ‘concerned group’ in Nkowankowa

Malungane confirmed on Tuesday that so far Dankow has 1600 applicants for the 3000 positions on offer. Meanwhile, Malawu Mathye, former secretary-general of Dankow, is no longer associated with Donkow. On Tuesday, Mathye told the Herald that he resigned from Dankow for two reasons. The first is the unfairness of the R50 fee charged for applying for the jobs. “I voted against the R50 fee,” said Mathye. The second reason that he left Dankow he stated was related to ‘allegations of discrepancies with regard to transport money paid for workers from a different local business.

“There are allegations that transport fees that were paid into my bank account were not distributed to the service providers with trucks and taxis. I distributed it accordingly to drivers in Modjadji, Nkowankowa, and Kgapane,” Mathye explained. “I am distancing myself from these illegal activities,” said Mathye with regard to the R50 registration fee charged by Dankow. He says that he resigned from the organisation on Tuesday morning and that he went to Nkowankowa Stadium to do so and that he walked away from Dankow out alone. He added that he started a new group, South Africans First Concerned Group (SAFC).

Malungane reiterated that Malawu was no longer a part of Dankow but stated that the former secretary-general of the organisation was suspended due to ‘irregularities’ and would like to inform businesses that deal with Dankow that he is no longer involved. This is a developing story and the Herald will follow up on it as it unfolds.