PRETORIA, Gauteng — Concerns over private security industry labor abuses have intensified after security officers stationed at the Tshwane District Hospital in Pretoria came forward with severe allegations against their employer. The guards, contracted through Sesly Malope Security Services, accuse the company of widespread non-compliance with labor laws, creating a highly toxic work environment, and subjecting staff to intimidation when they attempt to raise grievances.
Allegations of Unpaid Wages and Unlawful Deductions
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to a fear of victimization and reprisal, an anonymous security officer detailed a disturbing pattern of financial mismanagement and broken promises by the security firm. According to the officer, salaries—which are contractually due on the 15th of every month—are frequently delayed, incomplete, or entirely withheld.
“The payment is not good. They are not paying in time,” the anonymous security officer stated, highlighting that the company has failed to provide salary increases over the past two years. The officer recounted a specific instance where workers received a partial payment of only 600 rand for the month, with a verbal promise that the remainder would be paid on the 25th. Furthermore, the officer noted that the written communication provided by the company lacked an official inquiry number or stamp, rendering it invalid and unbelievable.
Beyond delayed wages, the spokesperson alleged rampant unlawful deductions. While medical aid and union fees are routinely deducted from the guards’ paychecks, the officer claims the medical aid is non-functional and the workers are not actually registered under any union. Additionally, the guards report receiving no bonuses, lacking a provident fund, and being forced to purchase their own uniforms out of pocket.
Systemic Non-Compliance in the Private Security Sector
The allegations at Tshwane District Hospital reflect a broader, systemic issue within the sector. According to the latest annual report from the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), compliance inspections revealed that hundreds of security companies across the country have failed to pay minimum wages, comply with provident fund requirements, and meet other critical regulatory obligations.
A labor expert consulted on the matter noted that these practices stand in direct contravention of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the applicable sectoral determination.
“These practices contravene the basic conditions of employment act and the applicable sectoral determination,” the labor expert explained. “They also don’t allow workers to enjoy workers’ rights. Some of those rights are stipulated in the basic conditions of employment act, which includes how many hours a day, a week a worker can work, what overtime is and how it is paid, how much sick leave is due to a worker, and the issue of bonuses.”
The expert further emphasized that many private security companies are breaking the law by forcing workers to labor without bonuses and failing to provide proper, legally compliant pay slips.
Company Denials and Institutional Silence
Management at Sesly Malope Security Services has firmly denied the allegations. In their response, the company’s management claimed that the current month was the only instance where workers were not paid on time, insisting that the matter would be resolved. Although the company initially undertook to provide documentary proof to refute the guards’ claims, no such evidence has been forthcoming.
Efforts to seek clarity from the broader institutional framework have yielded little response. Management at the Tshwane District Hospital could not be reached for comment regarding the working conditions of the personnel securing their facility. Meanwhile, the City of Tshwane stated that it does not involve itself in disputes between a private contractor and its employees, effectively distancing the municipality from the labor dispute.
Similarly, direct efforts to obtain comment from PSIRA regarding the specific allegations at the hospital were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
As the guards continue to work under the alleged toxic conditions, the situation highlights the ongoing challenges in enforcing labor compliance and protecting vulnerable workers within South Africa’s heavily regulated, yet frequently non-compliant, private security industry.
