Security guards and cleaners met with the City of Tshwane to discuss insourcing developments and provide them with a platform to raise their grievances.
The Imbizo also served as an opportunity to address the challenges faced by these workers and to explore how insourcing can ensure better working conditions and benefits.
Derick Mahlangu, ActionSA Regional Chairperson in the City of Tshwane, has outlined the importance of offering sustainable employment to workers, emphasising the need for job security.
“The city’s suggestion is to directly employ security guards and cleaners, providing them with permanent jobs, benefits, and job security.”
“We must end the practice of treating workers as disposable commodities. Insourcing security staff is a step in the right direction towards dignity and fairness for these workers.” Said Mahlangu.
The security guards and cleaners have welcomed the proposed solutions, viewing them as a step forward in addressing their grievances.
Constance Mahapa, one of the security guards, said she supports the proposal put forward by the City.
“We are looking forward to having permanent jobs and benefits. This is great news,” she said.
During the engagement, the City also highlighted ongoing vandalism of municipal infrastructure and assets, which has resulted in financial losses amounting to millions of rands.
MMC for Community Safety, Alderman Hannes Coetzee, emphasised the importance of community cooperation with law enforcement to put an end to the vandalism of municipal property.
The city’s infrastructure has been afflicted with cable theft and vandalism for ages, and a staggering R500 million in losses was experienced in the year 2024 alone. MMC for Community Safety Alderman Hannes Coetzee said the time had come to act. “We are tired of having our city’s infrastructure sabotaged by cable theft and vandalism. It’s high time we take matters into our own hands and ensure that our security officers have the means to do their work properly.”
Obakeng Ramabodu, MMC for Agriculture and Environment, highlighted the importance of collaborative governance in achieving the goals of the city. “We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the provincial government and the National Police Commissioner to improve law enforcement and protect the assets of the city.”
