Tshwane’s decision to insource only 100 labourers unfair – disgruntled workers

The Tshwane Metro has announced its intention to insource 100 cleaners as part of its efforts to enhance internal staff and end worker exploitation.

MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, said this move is the first step to not only restoring secured employment opportunities, but dignity among workers.

“With this initiative, we are not merely filling positions; we are restoring dignity, ensuring job security, and building a stronger, more resilient internal workforce. The process will be implemented gradually, and we anticipate that in due course, all our cleaners and security guards will be insourced. This initiative underscores our unwavering dedication to fair labour practices and the empowerment of our employees,” he said.

Morodi went on to state that the metro is aware of the challenges that lie ahead regarding insourcing workers, though assured outsourced cleaners and guards that the process will keep integrity at the forefront of its operations.

“Achieving this milestone has not been without its challenges, but our resolve remains steadfast. While we may face hurdles in reaching our goals this year, we are confident that with persistence and determination, we will realise our vision,” he said.

“To our current cleaners and security guards, we assure you that this process will be fair, transparent, and merit-based, ensuring that only qualified individuals benefit from these opportunities.”

However, a group of disgruntled workers remain unhappy.

The insourcing of metro security guards and cleaners has been an ongoing struggle for the past five years, which has led to several protests throughout the ordeal.

In 2018, the metro resolved to employ the 4 000 guards directly, but to date only phase 1, the employment of 1 302, has been completed.

The spokesperson for the group of disgruntled workers, Hlengiwe Ngwenya, said they are disappointed by the metro’s approach as it does little to quell the issues they face.

“We feel that this is unfair, why are they supposed to apply? And only 100 of them? Everyone is now welcome to apply and they are just going to take whoever. How are they supposed to see who were the cleaners who actually fought for these jobs? How are they going to identify them? It’s unfair and the same applies to insourcing security guards. We won’t want the positions to be advertised like this,” Ngwenya said.

Ngwenya added that the metro should instead go physically to the different sites of these workers to recruit the ones who have been calling for insourcing all these years instead of using emails for applications.

“This is not what we fought for, really, we’ve been sleeping outside Tshwane House, not for this. This is not insourcing, they are hiring,” Ngwenya concluded.

Also Read: Security guards’ insourcing battle continues

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