Nine members from the Dundee Correctional Services are on suspension after being charged in December 2016 for gross insubordination.
According to a finding, their refusal to work the 10 to 4 shift has caused disgruntlement and has left the prison vulnerable to escapes after they simply did not work the shifts.
One member was also charged for using vulgar language on a female officer. According to the aggrieved members, the change in shift hours ‘is unlawful as it would mean them having to work 10 hours without overtime, even on weekends, and then get four days off with just an R100 allowance’.
“Previously, we worked 7 to 2. We are being victimised. In March this year, the employer lifted our suspension but three days later we were again charged.” They claim their union ‘had not helped them’.
They also claim that as a result of the stress one of the members, Harry Rhyn, who has over 11 years service, resigned. Mr Rhyn said he had ‘suffered a lot of stress after being suspended for over 90 days’. “I am not happy with shift work and no one listens to us – hence I resigned.”

All structures were consulted including staff members and labour unions before the implementation, and it was agreed in principle as per procedure

However, Thulani Mdluli, Correctional Services’ KZN communications officer, said it is ‘untrue that the 10 to 4 shift is unlawful’.
“The shift is a formal agreement policy of 2011 signed between the employer and labour union and it cannot be debated until a review is made between two parties. All labour processes are being followed correctly by management as per procedures in place.
“Dundee Correctional Centre is located in the Glencoe Management Area which comprises of many other Correctional Centres. Some of these Correctional Centres have been using the 10-4 shift system ever since while Dundee uses both the 7-4 and 10-4 shift systems.
“After a number of escapes occurred in 2015, our internal investigation process recommended that only 10-4 shift systems should be implemented to avoid human resource shortages that might contribute to escapes. All structures were consulted including staff members and labour unions before the implementation, and it was agreed in principle as per procedure,” Mr Mdluli said.
“Presently we cannot debate the agreement policy.

Any staff member employed by Correctional Services signs a performance service agreement that makes an employee comply with all the fundamental policies of the department.
“The Department of Correctional Services, in the KwaZulu-Natal, requests that every staff member co-operates with all policies and procedures drawn up for the best service delivery to our citizens. Anybody who defies it without proper engagement shall face disciplinary action.”