Workers attacked during protest
The South Hills had a busy morning when protesters threw rocks at workers in the South Hills's housing project, over alleged exclusion during hiring processes.
CONSTRUCTION workers ran for their lives after they were surprised by angry people who started shaking the fence and throwing rocks at them in the South Hills on Wednesday, April 13.
A number of angry residents of the South, especially from ward 57, gathered in the South Hills in Nephin Road to shut down the housing construction project over alleged hiring exclusion, among other grievances.
The protesters initially threw rocks at the workers, who ran into the open ground, before they started fighting with each other as other locals joined in to help worker, Sibusiso Buthelezi, who fell to the ground when he was attacked by the protesters.
“We came here to work this morning and suddenly some of the protesters started attacking us. I fell to the ground – as you can see, my hand is scratched. But at that time I started fighting back. Some residents joined in to help me before peace was restored. I did not understand this because I am also a resident and a local comrade,” said Sibusiso.
According to ANC ward 57 David Webster Branch’s chairperson, William Ntsanwisi, some people arrived and started attacking the workers, and that was not supposed to happen. “That is why we arrived as leaders to restore peace.”
The COURIER team established that the protest was over an “alleged” exclusion in hiring processes by the construction company, Calgro M3, which allegedly did not give all locals a fair chance at landing employment. It was also disclosed that the current workers did not sign contracts and do not have work suits, safety boots and safety gloves to perform construction duties.
Community liaison officer, Mseshi Lungiso, said, “The workers have not signed any contracts because the contractors have also not signed contracts. You cannot give people contracts when you have not yet signed a contract yourself.”
According to Ntsanwisi, the construction company had agreed that there would not be any construction done until it had spoken to the community about a way forward where everyone was included in the processes.
Calgro M3 comment:
The Southern COURIER made contact with Gillian Findlay from Cambial Communications, a company that represents Calgro M3, who informed the people of the South’s paper that:
1. Calgro M3 understands that the protest action that has recently taken place at the South Hills development has arisen from disagreements between two different factions within the community.
2. The company is specifically precluded by the City of Johannesburg Housing Department from being involved in community issues in any way. It is therefore not possible for the company to resolve this or to even comment on it.
3. Regarding employment, we are only securing the area and working on the foundations at this stage, which calls for a reduced workforce. Once construction of the top structure begins, more jobs will become available.
4. All job applications are channelled via a community liaison officer (CLO) and a labour desk officer (LDO). Both of these appointments have been made by the City of Johannesburg and both have been filled by members of the community itself.
5. Calgro M3 actively seeks to employ members of the community through the CLO and the LDO, depending on their level of skills and experience.
6. Calgro M3 has spent R1.5 million at the South Hills construction site to train community members in various skill sets, before any construction activity commenced. This commitment to training will continue throughout the project life cycle.
7. Regarding the contracts, it is important to note that Calgro M3 uses community-based subcontractors to undertake the construction and all have valid, signed contracts in place. It is incorrect to say otherwise.
