Scores of employees at Daybreak Foods staged a protest outside the company’s Delmas facility on Monday, demanding unpaid salaries and expressing frustration over the poultry producer’s financial collapse.
The workers, many of whom say they have gone months without full pay, described dire personal circumstances, including an inability to afford rent, transport, and groceries. Some employees have been forced to stay home, while others continue reporting to work, hoping for a resolution.
Workers Struggle to Survive
Louisa Thosago, a general worker at Daybreak, revealed that she has not received her full salary for three months. “I am renting a room, and my landlord has threatened to evict me. I can’t pay my child’s school transport or even buy groceries,” she said.
Another employee, Aaron Gqaleni, who has worked at the company for 33 years, voiced concerns over unpaid pension and provident fund contributions. “We’ve decided to take to the streets because Daybreak is not heeding our concerns. Our names have been tainted, and the company doesn’t seem to care,” he said.
Business Rescue as Last Hope
Daybreak Foods, once acquired by Matome Maponya Investments with funding from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), was placed under business rescue in May to avoid liquidation and protect nearly 3,000 jobs. Workers allege that attempts to engage the PIC have yielded little progress.
Charlotta, interim chairperson of the company’s newly reconstituted board, expressed confidence in the business rescue process. “We welcome the appointment of the BRP as part of efforts to rescue the company and save jobs. We believe a credible turnaround plan will be achieved,” she said.
However, workers remain skeptical and have vowed to continue protests until their demands are met. With Daybreak teetering on the brink of collapse, employees are calling for urgent government intervention to salvage their livelihoods.
