RESIDENTS living with disabilities at the Jona Vaughan Home for the Handicapped in Amanzimtoti have had to rely on volunteers to look after them after staff downed tools since June 5 in protest of unpaid salaries.

Also read: Jona Vaughan Home receives donation

The staff members who work in the facility’s different departments said they are owed three months’ worth of salaries by Durban and Coastal Mental Health (DCMH). DCMH is a Durban-based non-profit organisation that gets its funding from the KZN Department of Health as well as the KZN Department of Social Development.

Staff allege that full salaries have not been paid in three months, and everyone has been paid a portion of their salaries, sometimes as little as R150 at the end of the month. They also allege that salaries were not paid in December, leading to the association of the centre’s residents’ parents to chip in and raise donations for the staff.

DCMH’s CEO, Mbonisi Sibisi, admitted that the organisation is cash-strapped but is working to resolve the outstanding salary payments. He said he anticipates that this matter will be fully resolved within the next 30 days.

“We remain in regular communication with employees across all our centres regarding the organisation’s financial position and the status of outstanding salary payments. Staff will continue to receive updates as new information becomes available,” said Sibisi.

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