Enraged EFF Sub Region 5 activists in Tshwane shut down the Pick ‘n Pay retail store that is situated at Silverton Crossing on Monday.
The EFF members descended upon the retail store in numbers to carry out their mission.
According to EFF Tshwane Sub-Region 5 leader Bongani Ramontja, the owners of the Pick ‘n Pay outlet are in the process of closing down the business for good without giving their workers retrenchment packages or even notifying them that there is financial crisis at the store which necessitates closure.
“The employers should be honest with the employees and give reasons as to why the store will be closed down for good, but instead the employers have shown arrogance and have treated the workers as if they are nonentities,” lamented Ramontja.
“The employees are frustrated because they haven’t been given retrenchment letters and are not sure if they will get retrenchment packages,” explained Ramontja.
“The employers don’t even know what will happen to their provident funds and there are people who have been working here at Pick ‘n Pay for more than twenty years and at the moment they are uncertain about their future, so we are of the opinion that the management of Pick ‘n Pay should have shown some courtesy by at least giving them three months notices of retrenchment in advance, assist them with provident funds and arrange alternative employment for them,” he said.
According to Ramontja, the EFF has written numerous letters to Cedric Mabapa and Samkelo Nyaula at the head office of Pick ‘n Pay as well as the owner of the Silverton Crossing Pick’n Pay outlet known as Black, they have been shown the proverbial middle finger up to now.
Ramontja said as EFF they are now demonstrating outside the Pick ‘n Pay store and will make sure that it remains closed, and the owner doesn’t make any profit until the demands of the workers are met.
“As the EFF we have love and passion for the marginalised and voiceless people in the community, that is why we are here for them,” enthused Ramontja.
“There won’t be any operations at the store, we are going to come here every day, we are going to shut it down and if it will take 20 days or so to shut it down then so be it,” he said.
He revealed that the owner of the Silverton Crossing Pick’n Pay Outlet Black, also owns the Equestria Pick ‘n Pay outlet and that they are also going to shut it down to make sure that he does not get any profit in any way whatsoever.
“Our people are being exploited and not being paid their money, so we want matters to be equal here: no retrenchment packages, no profit for him, no money for our people, no profit for Black,” said Ramontja.
He said the Silverton Crossing Pick ‘n Pay outlet shall be opened only after Black has provided the embattled workers with the required money and severence packages.
Ramontja said EFF is the vanguard party of the community, the “doctors” of the community and that all that they as the EFF are interested in is to make sure that those who are being exploited are able to get the money that is due to them so that they can live in comfort.
“We want to make sure that those who owe bond houses and cars get their money so that they can repay their debts,” emphasised Ramontja.