Probe under way after employee ‘sexually harassed’

In a statement presented to Ward 82 councillor Susan Stewart, the complainant said: “During the course of three months, [I] was being sexually harassed by [the accused] on the Randburg site. He verbally harassed me by making comments, telling me what he would do to me sexually.”

The harassment allegedly began in April, Northcliff Melville Times reported.

“He would question me about my sex life. He would make inappropriate facial and hand gestures. He physically harassed me by touching my private parts, trying to kiss me. He would pick me up and try and grab me. When I tried pushing him away, he would laugh at me or get aggressive. He approached me when I was alone in the office and occasionally in front of a few workers on the field. I have feelings of anxiety and stress and am afraid to go back to site,” read the statement.

In addition to these allegations, the complainant’s family said they had declined a bribe from HBC employees from the site after they asked them not to pursue the case.

The Gauteng department of infrastructure development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza confirmed the sexual harassment accusations.

“The alleged suspect was removed from site and [the] contractor assured [the GDID] that he would never return until the matter was fully investigated and concluded,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

Linden Police spokesperson Captain Alex Vermaak said the case was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if he would prosecute the suspect.

The complainant stated she had met with the site manager at the Department of Labour and was asked to return back to work in order to be paid her salary. She declined, stating that HBC could not ensure her safety.

Managing director of HBC Joseph Tshawe declined to comment on the matter.

Delta Park School underwent construction as part of an initiative from the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) and the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) involving the revival and improvement of 287 schools in the province. HBC was contracted as a joint venture contractor.

– Caxton News Service