Why is Helen Joseph security company not paying its workers?

3 October 2014

About 50 retrenched security guards who were employed by Vimba security company at the Helen Joseph Hospital are protesting today outside Vimba's offices in Braamfontein Johannesburg as they say they have not been paid retrenchment money and last month's wages.

Vimba was abruptly replaced this month at the hospital by another security company, presumably because of the recent rape of a nurse there.

The guards tell me that they were poorly treated by Vimba.

Vimba was paid R6.5 million a year to provide security at the hospital, but I suspect that they pocketed large profits and skimped on service.

It confirms my view that security companies that are paid R189 million every year to guard Gauteng public hospitals are charging exorbitant rates for poor service.

I am probing the whole issue of value for money for hospital security contracts.

We need decent security at our hospitals for a fair price.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, October 3 2014

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