A security company in Nelson Mandela Bay has terminated its contract a month early with the Eastern Cape Health Department because it is owed R4m – with around 100 guards not receiving their January salaries.
The security guards, employed by Xhobani Security, were stationed at healthcare facilities across the region, reports GroundUp.
Some of the workers embarked on a brief protest after receiving the news last week, but on Monday morning returned to their duties under a month-to-month contract for a different company, Tekhu Security Services.
A guard at the Laetitia Bam Day Hospital in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, said they were still awaiting their January salaries from Xhobani, and that they had asked the health department to employ them directly.
Xhobani Security Services general manager Carl Lonn said the health department of owed them more than R4m.
National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union regional secretary Samkelo Msila said it had warned the DoH that if union members were affected, it would take legal action.
The DoH did not respond to queries.
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