Members of the Patriotic Alliance confronted the management of HDS Cut and Edge company in Waltloo, Tshwane on Wednesday over its failure to pay a disgruntled former worker of the company his dues.
According to PA Tshwane women’s alliance regional secretary Pretty Morudu, the party received a complaint from a former worker of HDS Cut and Edge who is also a member of the PA alerting them that he was unfairly dismissed from the company and went to the CCMA where he won the case, but the company refused to honor the CCMA’s outcome.
The CCMA’s outcome was that the company must pay him 3 months’ salary.
“The guy has been working at the HDS cut and edge company in Waltloo since February this year and in March the guy fell ill and went to a doctor but when he went back to work on the 31 March 2024 he was dismissed,” said Morudu.
“We are not going to fold our arms and watch our South African brother being treated like that, that is why we as members of PA have decided to stand up and fight for the young man right,” said Morudu.
She emphasised that it is wrong for the manager to treat workers like the way he does, pointing out that there are allegations of workers being ill-treated, sworn at and called names by the manager.
“As PA we say enough is enough and this needs to stop and the company must pay the guy his money, and we are aware that besides ill-treating and dismissing South African workers, the manager actually prefers employing illegal foreigners,” explained Morudu.
“As Patriotic Alliance we will make sure that the young man gets all his money and the company must pay him, “she said.
The aggrieved worker who has allegedly been ill-treated and fired by HDS company is Vincent Mogale, who used to work as a machine operator.
According to Mogale,the HDS factory manufactures units, and he started working there in February 2024 and experienced health problems as he was working without being provided with Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs).
Mogale pointed out that another frustrating matter at the factory was that shifts would be changed abruptly without enough prior notice to the workers.
He identified the manager of the factory only as Wimpie.
Mogale confirmed to Tshwane Talks that he indeed got sick in March 2024 from the 28 to the 30th and got dismissed on the 31 March 2024 despite having a doctor’s note confirming his illness.
“I took the matter to the CCMA and the manager failed to attend several hearings of the CCMA and an order was issued that he must pay me 3 months’ salary which amounts to R 16 133,40c no later than 22 May 2024, but he never paid the money and even today I am still waiting,” said Mogale.
He then decided to get PA members to help him get his money and he no longer wants to go back to work for HDS company, and all he wants is his money as he will try to find another job elsewhere.
“There are lots of illegal foreigners who are working at HDS and in December last year those foreigners were arrested and the manager bailed them out with R 5000 each, which he has now deducted from their salaries,” said Mogale.
HDS Cut and Edge general manager David Commons told the Tshwane Talks that as the general manager he was not aware of this, and the company will make sure that the young man gets pay this Friday.