By: Mbuso Kunene

Workers of two construction companies, iNduna Logistics and Radds Transport working under the Port of Richards Bay, gave Transnet 14 working days to respond to their demands.

The march was led by their union CIMESHAWU.

To deliver their grievances, workers sang songs and danced on the hot weather condition which was reaching up to 35 degrees celsius.

Reading out the memorandum of demands to the company, Chairperson of CIMESHAWU Bheki Shabane, said that Transnet took a decision of demanding 15 percent from the company that recruits workers.

“As a result of that decision 56 employees lost their jobs because the employer said they have run out of funds to pay more employees,” said Shabane.

He added that working conditions in the premises of Transnet are not favourable for workers under construction.

“An employee who is under (an) agent doesn’t get the same safety working equipment as compared to those employed by Transnet,” he added. “As a result of that some of these employees have been diagnosed with TB.”

Eric Dladla, an employer at iNduna Logistics, said that they are tired of being exploited by Transnet and they need the same treatment as Transnet’s permanent employees.

“You can’t work for five years without a salary increment. We are not being able to take our children to schools because of that,” said Dladla. “Petrol price increases everyday yet our pay stays the same.”

Mandla Mpungose, on behalf of the Port of Richards Bay, accepted and signed the memorandum of demands of workers and promised to pass it to the relevant department.

“I am not from HR. I am here representing the port and I will take your demands to the authorities,” said Mpungose.