Scores of cleaners scrubbing the floor, cleaning the bathrooms and ensuring the courts in East London are squeaky clean have been left in limbo, having not been paid their salaries for three months and counting.
The workers, under the employ of Metrox Cleaning Services, stationed at the East London and Mdantsane magistrate’s courts and the special tribunal in Vincent, continue with their daily duties despite the nonpayment.
The situation is so dire that some of the workers have let their insurance policies lapse and are engulfed in debt.
It is understood that the East London magistrate’s court has 15 affected employees, while the Mdantsane magistrate’s court and the tribunal have 16 and three employees, respectively.
They started working for the company in October 2024.
The workers could not hold back their tears when interviewed.
Ntombizine Maqhugula from NU13 in Mdantsane said they had not been paid for three months.
“The company didn’t say anything to us, and when we inquired, we were told that they are not getting payment from the public works department.
“We don’t know what will happen. We want our money, and it must be backpaid.
“We have been enduring this ill-treatment with previous companies for years, but we have never gone three months without our salaries,” Maqhugula said.
She said they tried taking the company to the CCMA, but they could not open a case without its registered office address.
Nolundi Tshwati, who lives with three children in Wesbank and has two children in university, said the department last delivered cleaning materials to them in January.
“I spoke with an official when he came to deliver the cleaning tools, and he said the money was withheld,” Tshwati said.
“I sent him a text and he said there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Even in December last year, we didn’t get paid.”
Another worker, Buyiswa Tuwa, said the company did not even give them payslips.
“My policy has lapsed. We borrow money and come to work every day. It’s painful. We are hungry.
“I live with my children and grandchildren. We eat pap and sleep. It’s painful when my children go to school hungry. I cry while cleaning,” she said.
Vuyelwa Ndzimela said: “Our dignity is dragged through the mud. We are told different stories.
“We have been threatened that we will be fired if we talk to the media, but we are tired of keeping quiet.”
Their boss, Marriam Mlonyeni, said the company had “experienced delays in processing payments due to unforeseen financial challenges”.
Mlonyeni alleged the public works department “does not pay me when I deliver the invoices”.
“I have tried my best to communicate with them, but all in vain.
“About three months back, I did not get paid at all.”
She said 50 employees were affected by the payment delays.
“We appreciate their hard work and commitment during this challenging time.
“We understand the impact this has on our employees and are working diligently to resolve the issue.
“We are committed to paying all outstanding salaries in full.
“We are currently working with our financial partners to secure the necessary funds. We expect to make payments within seven days.
“We are currently in discussions with the department of public works regarding our ongoing projects,” Mlonyeni said.
National public works spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said according to the department’s knowledge, all invoices with full supporting documentation had been paid.
He said the department “has had numerous intervention meetings with the service provider to try and assist with compliance of the contract, among other things, payment of salaries”.
“In addition to that, we had interactions with the client and the workers. We further advised workers to open cases with the CCMA.
“The department views this in a very serious light ... The department paid the service provider for compliant invoices, but there are invoices which were not compliant,” Mabaso said.
Daily Dispatch
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