Cape Town - Operation Dudula, the organisation agitating for the employment of locals over illegal foreign nationals, said a march from a splinter group to Groote Schuur Hospital does not have its blessing.
The splinter group marched to the hospital over the hiring of documented and undocumented foreign nationals as cleaners, porters and cooks.
The group’s Cape Town co-ordinator, Vuyo Tshongweni, accused Zara Cleaning Services of mostly employing foreign nationals, with some requested to pay a sum of money for a job.
“Operation Dudula has stood up to see to it that the citizens of this country are prioritised when it comes to employment in every government institutions, businesses, non-profitable organisations, and foreign nationals only considered for rare or scarce skills,” Tshongweni said.
Operation Dudula Western Cape deputy chairperson Lulamile Bavuma, however, condemned the action from the splinter group, stating that the march shouldn’t have happened.
“We distance ourselves from that march because it was not organised by us, but by somebody who was disciplined by us and then decided to have his own group. We are internally busy with that.”
Bavuma said they are considering court action against the group and expected them to “break the law in the long run”.
Provincial Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said: “Operation Dudula’s memorandum speaks to the appointment of non-occupational dispensation staff.
"In this category, Groote Schuur Hospital has not employed any foreigners. On the contrary, the hospital staff are predominantly South African citizens, with the appointment of foreigners only to be considered in line with the Provincial Recruitment and Selection policy and compliance with Section 19(4) of the Immigration Act No 13 of 2002 and Section 8 of the Employment Services Act 4 of 2014, but only appointing non-SA if they have a scarce skill and a valid work permit.”
Van der Heever said the department categorically condemned any form of xenophobia or discrimination.
Speaking on behalf of Zara Cleaning Services, attorney Wayne Hufkie denied any merit to the allegations made against its client, and said that the company was working closely with the department in addressing the issues raised.
“Furthermore, our client is well aware of a ‘jobs for cash’ scam being circulated on various social media platforms, using our client’s good name, and with the sole intent of defrauding vulnerable job-seekers. Our client distances itself from this opportunism, and welcomes any evidence which could assist in bringing the perpetrators of this act to book.”