Fieldworkers of Stats SA are getting desperate towards the end of their three-month contract. Some of the workers allege that they have not received a single cent since they started working on 2 February.

Feedback from Head of Stats SA in the Western Cape, Patrick Kelly, however, states otherwise.

“From the list I received from our office, all those people have received some payment,” said Kelly. “These colleagues were given an extension of their contracts to 30 April. They expected payment in the middle of April (when the original contract ended) but will only get it for the full month after April. There has been a clarification communicated to the team.”

Meanwhile, a fieldworker in Sedgefield said she does not know what to do. “I was supposed to get paid ten days after 20 March, but I have received nothing so far. I can’t pay school fees, I don’t have any money,” said Akhoma Ncethezo on Monday 25 April.

In George things are not looking any better. Xolela Poti, a father of three children, said his family doesn’t trust him any more.

“I owe money to many people in Thembalethu. I have to feed my kids. What am I supposed to do? None of my pleas are being heard. No one in the George office wants to take responsibility. I received many dates from a field operator on which I would get my money, but it has never happened,” Poti told George Herald on Monday 25 April.

“Today I was supposed to receive my payment, but nothing happened. To work for three months without a salary is really bad. We are expected to work, but there is no payment.”

According to Poti he knows of two other fieldworkers in Thembalethu who haven’t received a cent.

“The contract is ending on Saturday 30 April. Meanwhile people are being deployed all over the Garden Route from other provinces, and they are getting food and sleep in B&Bs, while we don’t have money to buy food for our families. This is totally demoralising and I am struggling with depression because of this situation.”

According to Ncethezo many local fieldworkers resigned and are being replaced by people from other provinces. “Myself and three others in my group didn’t get paid at all. The other three resigned, along with many others in our group. We are only four left from Sedgefield, working for the whole Sedgefield. They got people in from the Free State to assist here last week.

“I know about problems in Plett and Knysna too.”