Workers who want to be absorbed by KZN govt vow to continue protesting until demands are met

DURBAN - Striking external workers demanding to be absorbed by the provincial government in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have vowed to intensify their strike if their cries are not heard.

On Thursday, hundreds of security guards, cleaners and caretakers took to the streets of Pietermaritzburg, as they continue to demand full-time jobs.

The group led a march to the premier’s office in the capital city.

They said with the high cost of living they want government to employ them instead of outsourcing their services.

Among the workers is a group that was retrenched from the Mahatma Gandi Memorial Hospital months ago, without any benefits.

The workers said they had heard enough. Their leader, Xolani Gcwensa.

“We want to be fully employed by the government, we want to cut the middleman because we want our salaries to come directly to us not to come through someone else.”

Gcenswa said due to a lack of income, some workers have even lost their insurance policies.

The workers have given the premier’s office seven days to respond to their call.  

The office of the Premier, meanwhile, accepted their memorandum, vowing to act.