Locals give their perspective on altercation at Sanral-site in Standerton
According to Dludlu, Sanral appointed the committee in 2021 and took responsibility for work done in Lekwa.
Sanral’s project liaison committee strongly disagreed with the viewpoint published in the newspaper’s last edition.
Some committee members visited the Standerton Advertiser’s offices on July 4.
As reported, the project at Sonskyn Handel on the R23 had reached a standstill. George Bosman, the CEO of Torra B Electrical, supplied videos and photos of intimidation by people from Standerton. The incident occurred on June 24.
Raubex Construction offered the contract to him, and he opened a case at the SAPS on June 29. Bosman said two of the women drove in an Eskom vehicle, and he supplied the registration number.
He said they demanded R28 000 for the project to continue. They also switched off their generator and took their tools. According to him, he is losing R18 000 daily.
Augustus Dludlu and Michael Ncgongo acted as spokespersons for the committee and gave some background on its functions.
According to Dludlu, Sanral appointed the committee in 2021 and took responsibility for the work done in Lekwa.
“Part of our duties include ensuring safety on all Sanral sites in the jurisdiction of Lekwa,” Dludlu said.
Dludlu argued that the workers employed were allegedly undocumented foreign nationals from Lesotho and Zimbabwe and had no working permits.
They allegedly also wore no protective clothing as prescribed by Sanral, nor had a medical check-up or went for an induction.
The civil engineering bargaining council regulates a rate of about R44 per hour. According to Dludlu, the workers were allegedly paid R1 500 every fortnight, and he calculated that it was less than the minimum wage.
He admitted they confronted Bosman, who allegedly said he paid them R3 500 per month but did not give the R500 since that is the cost of transporting the group from Vereeniging to Standerton.
The group in the office said the workers travelled on the back of a bakkie, which did not adhere to Sanral standards.
There were no barricades placed behind the excavations – another regulation not followed.
“It is a danger to our community,” Dludlu added.
Ncgongo said he represented local businesses and had received a complaint from an outside company doing the project.
Ncgongo said they asked Raubex to employ 30% locals and 70% Raubex workers in town.
“Local companies must be appointed as sub-contractors. I requested Bosman to appoint local companies at the site,” Ncgongo emphasised.
According to the group in the office, Bosman allegedly tried to take the cellphone from the woman making a video of the altercation, spat at her and threatened to kill them.
The R28 000 extortion demand, as said by Bosman, was vehemently denied. They said the only money mentioned was the rate of the bargaining council.
“We are not stopping the Sanral project or Raubex,” they concluded.
Bosman sent several emails on July 7, denying the allegations in the strongest terms and supplying photos inter alia of protective clothing and barricades.
“I have no foreigners working for me, in fact four of them are from Standerton,” the CEO said.
According to him, with the exception of one, none are permanent workers.
“The spitting is also not true, although when in an argument with someone, it is normal that some moisture will come from your mouth.”
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He also said they went to the police to open a case of spitting and were chased away.
“Who gave them the right to stop my project and demand money from a hard-working person and his personnel?” he asked.
Bosman added he daily supplied food to the workers. In conclusion, he mentioned that Torra B Electrical painted the community school in Holmdene at no cost, donated six fire extinguishers and six gas heaters.
The company also has been involved with repairing the power line in Holmdene for the past three years, at no cost.
