Byline:Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

24 April 2022

Blue Lion Security Group employees have finally been paid their two months salaries on Thursday evening, 19 April 2022.

This is after Evander Hospital security personnel joined forces with those working in local clinic on a go slow after non-payment of salaries.

Seskhona Media reporter Nonjabuliso Nhlambo met with the security personnel working at one of the health facilities at Embalenhle late in March 2022 after it was alleged that they were working without any uniform nor identification and are on a go slow for no payment of salaries.

The facilities have been operational under these circumstances meaning anyone could gain access to the facility without being screened.

One of the female security personnel said a memorandum was pasted on the wall of the guardroom by their manager without even communicating what the memo is about.

Upon our inspection of the memo, Blue Lion had made a promise to pay all its employees no later than 09 April 2022.

On 14 April 2022, security personnel deployed at Evander Hospital together with other those from other health facilities within Govan Mbeki Municipality took to Evander Hospital management to vent their grievances.

The CEO of Evander Hospital, Ms Madala Ndlovu in her statement to the community and security personnel assured she has been engaging with the relevant departments and was informed that payments have been made and were to reflect at any given time.

She further mentioned that it is with great sadness that security officials were not paid their salaries. 

“We are in a crisis, there is no hospital without security personnel and the security of the employees as well our patients is at stake. 

Generally, there would be no security guards without the facilities for them to work for.

Therefore due to the foregoing, we all need each other,” she said stressing on the importance of the relationship between the security officers and the health facilities.

Noting the concerns raised during the meeting, the CEO at the Hospital stated that she was trying her best to resolve the situation but it seems to be beyond powers of the hospital..

“We are depending on the Department of Health and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison as this is beyond our scope of responsibilities”, those were Ms Ndlovu closing remarks.

Mr Vusi Maseko from EFF’s desk took part in the meeting where he and the concerned employees were briefed as to why they are not yet paid. 

An agreement was reached that they would further wait to see if payments shall reflect on Thursday 14 April.

Seskhona Media contacted the Mpumalanga Department of Health and they refferred us to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison whose phones just rang unanswered. 

Mr Chris Nobela from the Mpumalanga Department of Health said it is their responsibility to ensure that all health facilities are supplied with security personnel, hence it is the responsibility og the Department of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison as a service provider to ensure that security personnel are paid. 

Payment of salaries have been made as assured by Ms. Ndlovu, all Blue Lion Security Group employees are back on duty as normal. 

Seskhona Media will continue to engage the Department of Community Safety and liaison on issues of uniform.