A SECURITY guards' rights group took action in Polokwane.
The Sekhukhune Security Crisis and Demand Forum, an organisation advocating for the rights of security guards, marched to the Limpopo Department of Health offices in Polokwane on Tuesday, 24 February.
They demanded better pay and fair treatment.
Disgruntled guards are calling for a R10 000 monthly salary, saying they risk life and limb every day protecting clinics and hospitals, yet their pay does not match the danger they face.
They also demanded better working conditions, claiming they are treated unfairly by service providers.
Among their key demands is the implementation of Section 197 of the Labour Relations Act, a law that protects workers when contracts change hands. It states that when a company changes ownership, workers must be transferred to the new employer with their jobs and benefits protected.
The guards said they are tired of losing jobs and benefits whenever new companies take over.
Some security guards, who gave their comments anonymously, said: "We are treated unfairly. We work for long hours, but the money we get at the end is nothing. We are unable to maintain our families. The cost of leaving is high," they said.
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Speaking to Daily Sun, the organisation's secretary, Philemon Mamosadi, said the main concern is that workers must not suffer when service providers are changed.
"Employees must not be affected when service providers are changed. We also raised an issue of a certain company, that we can't name, that operates illegally."
He added that some guards are denied annual leave.
"That is unlawful," he said.
Mamosadi said the department has been given seven working days to respond.
"We are hopeful our demands will get the necessary attention they deserve. Our memorandum was received by the department's HOD," he said.
Deputy director-general for corporate services at the Department of Health, Matome Mawasha, confirmed receipt of the memorandum.
"We will respond to this memorandum of demands within seven working days. We will also arrange an official meeting with the organisation's leadership."
