By Celani Sikhakhane
Several workers in KwaZulu-Natal’s transport and human settlements department have allegedly lost their cars and insurance policies because they have not been paid for nearly three months.
Workers are struggling with depression as a result.
Even key staff, including MEC Siboniso Duma’s security guards and assistant, are affected. After his policy lapsed, one bodyguard couldn’t pay for a relative’s funeral, so MEC Duma had to help him out.
Ministry head Dumisani Ngema reportedly uses a department car instead of his own to save money.
A source told Scrolla.Africa that staff moved with Duma from another department after the 29 May elections.
“It’s painful to see people suffering like this, and the head of the ministry, Dumisani Ngema, seems clueless because he is supposed to help us in this situation,” the source said.
“As I’m speaking to you, people are depressed, others have been forced to take their kids out of school because they cannot pay school fees, medical aids have been cancelled, and cars are being repossessed.”
Some staff can’t afford petrol to come to work.
KZN government spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said Duma is working to fix the problem. He explained that departmental restructuring after the new administration caused delays.
“The main challenge is that a lot of changes were made after the new administration took over, resulting in a restructuring of the departments. The Department of Human Settlements was incorporated into the Department of Transport, which led to many changes in terms of staff members,” said Sibiya.
He said the department is addressing the delays at all levels to support staff.
Pictured above: KZN’s transport and human settlements MEC Sboniso Duma. The department’s staff members are struggling with depression due to the non-payment of their salaries.
Source: Department of Transport and Human Settlements
