Guards taking head to court

2008-07-09 18:32

Oris Mnisi and Sydney Masinga

Bushbuckridge - Two guards are taking an Mpumalanga high school principal to the labour court after accusing him of dismissing them unfairly to replace them with better qualified guards.

Terence Mkhatshwa,39, and France Nyathi,48, were employed as guards and general cleaners for five years at Orhovelani High School in Thulamahashe near Bushbuckridge.

They were fired last month and they accuse principal Dingiswayo Mthethwa of replacing them with Mozambican guards from Gauteng, whom he claimed were properly qualified for the job.

"He didn't even consult the school governing body or school management. He does whatever he wants at the school and no one opposes him," said Nyathi.

Mkhatshwa said that when four posts for security guards were advertised in March, he and Nyathi applied for them.

"Mthethwa said he had secured the posts for us, including for our colleague Ruel Chauke, because we had a good record with the school," said Mkhatshwa.

Failed to meet requirements

When approached for comment, the principal said the two men had been employed on a temporary basis and were paid R1 500 a month on condition they joined a union and went on security courses.

"We expected them to register with unions and to take security courses, but they spent all their money on liquor and girlfriends," said Mthethwa.

Mthethwa said both men also failed to meet the requirements for the advertised posts.

"The posts required senior certificate qualifications and they did not have any, so other applicants succeeded," he said.

- African Eye