“I am pleased to announce that the City of Johannesburg will start issuing appointment letters to those beneficiaries of the security guard insourcing programme for which the verification process has been concluded from Friday, 5 July. This will conclude the second phase of the insourcing of our security force, bringing the total to over 3 700 thusfar,” said City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba.
“I also wish to reassure these guards that their current contracts will continue with their current employers on a month-to-month basis until 1 October,” he added.
According to Mashaba, in addition, security guards who joined the City after the initial announcement of insourcing in May 2017 will also be taken into account with a separate application process. The City has identified the need for additional security capacity and will open an ordinary recruitment process for more security officers and those already working within the City will be given preference.
The initial start day of 1 July was deferred due to technical and verification processes that still had to be finalised. The City suspects that certain candidates made material misrepresentations during the recruitment process and investigations are underway on a case by case basis.
Mashaba also appealed to the affected beneficiaries to bear with them as they ensure that a fair process has been followed and that those deserving will indeed benefit from it. As a caring and conscientious government, the City is committed to continuously engaging the affected security guards about the progress of the insourcing programme.
Apparently, the City is also still in the process of acquiring the necessary uniforms and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for when they commence work on 1 October.
“We remain deeply committed to insourcing, which represents a departure from the past practices of the City which saw over R700 million being paid annually to politically connected security companies. Each security guard earned under R4 000 per month, while the security companies received more than R12 000 per month per security guard,” he said.
“What the City has achieved is to redirect the lucrative profit margins of these politically connected companies, and direct them to the families of nearly 4 000 guards in the City of Johannesburg.
The insourcing programme achieves dignity in the lives of these security guards, while containing the escalating contracted services in the City of Johannesburg. I know that these security guards will serve the City of Johannesburg with pride, after we have achieved so much for their dignity.”
In conclusion he said, “Our gratitude is extended to our coalition partners, the IFP, ACDP, COPE, UDM and FF+, for their continued support in bringing dignity to those who work for the City.
Our deepest appreciation also goes to the EFF, who have worked with us every step of the way to bring the dignity of insourcing to our employees.”
