The departmental spokesperson, Petrus Siko, confirms to OFM News’ questions that this comes after workers accused the department of trying to get rid of them for their preferred candidates. These workers allegedly on Tuesday travelled from Klerksdorp to Mahikeng to stop the process of interviews organised by the department. 

This follows after the department advertised the posts for the Matlosana and Rustenburg Juvenile Prison Centres in February to fill them by 1 April 2020 after the deaprtment took over operations at the centres after the departure of Bosasa, following rife allegations of fraud and corruption. Siko says the department took a decision to in-source or take over the functions as opposed to abandoning the contract to the liquidators.

Meanwhile, a source tells OFM News that the department promised employees permanent jobs since it took over but the department has only been extending the contract with one month. The source further says the department has been underpaying workers as opposed to the R9000 it promised them.

The source adds that department, despite all the promises it made to them, has been sneaking behind their backs and is now approaching employees with a one-on-one contract.

But Siko rubbishes the claims and says the current recruitment process which the department is engaging upon, is within the applicable constitutional provisions, Public Service Act, and Public Service Regulations that regulate all people who are to provide services to government.

“It was widely consulted at the time when employees were engaged on fixed-term contracts whilst waiting for the formal recruitment process. This was part of the conditions which have to be within the 12 month-period as endorsed by the Ministers of Social Development and the Department of Public Service and Administration,” he adds.

He explains that the Department has met with the concerned employees in an attempt to address their issues and committed to continue to ensure labour peace and also appealed with the affected officials to subject themselves to the applicable process as there is no way that the department can act contrary to the process which is at the court of law.

“Equally, the provision of services at the two centres cannot be held at ransom for failure to ensure employment of personnel at the detriment of the beneficiaries who are placed in such facilities through the court order judgment. Hence it is imperative to proceed with the current processes to recruit personnel.

Salaries in government are regulated per post levels. There is no way that the department could underpay workers as this would become a labour relations issue which the CCMA or labour court could resolve. The disparities on salaries are from their previous employer which was not regulated and there were some inconsistencies on a month-to-month contracts, depending on the shift and overtime allowances,” Siko further adds.

 OFM News