Bleak start to 2015 for guards after contract is terminated

While many employed people are already making their New Year’s resolutions, Mafoko Security Patrols (MSP) guards are faced with a bleak 2015.

This follows an announcement by the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL) that it will not renew MSP’s contract.

Barberton Times has learnt that its contract with the department ended at the end of November and it is currently operating on a monthly basis.

But DCSSL has since issued a confirmation notice to MSP management whereby it was notified that the contract would finally be terminated at the end of January.

Part of it read, “You are hereby given notice of end of your contract term for the appointment to render security services in accordance with the service level agreement concluded between yourself and the department. The notice is effective from December 1, 2014 until January 31, 2015 at 18:00.” The notice was signed by the head of department for DCSSL, William Mthombothi on December 2 and addressed to MSP’s human-resource executive Andrew Phungwayo.

According to union representatives, which represent majority of the security guards, the employer has already consulted them on possible retrenchments.

A memorandum shown to this publication from the employer to the employees informs the security officers that the department has served MSP with a 60-day notice.

“The union officials have been advised accordingly about the termination of contract and further announcements about consultation dates will be made once it has been confirmed with union officials,” said Andrew Phungwayo of MSP.

The company had been contracted by the DCSSL since 2011. It replaced Mshika Security Service and unlike its predecessor, which was always embroiled in late payments for staff, MSP has been held in high esteem by its employees.

Security officers, of whom most came from Mshika, said since MSP came on board, they have never encountered any problems of late payments.