EFF party intervenes in East London labour disputes

EFF members stepped in over two different cases of retail unrest this week, one at Sparg’s SUPERSPAR in Beacon Bay on Wednesday and the other at the KFC outlet in NU13, Mdantsane, on Tuesday.

Business at Sparg’s was put on hold for an hour on Wednesday when employees and EFF members protested over what they alleged was the mistreatment and unfair dismissal of 16 workers.

The EFF’S BCM regional chair, Mziyanda Hlekiso, said the party had received a report from the workers about unfair dismissals two weeks ago.

“We are a peaceful organisation until our people are being mistreated.

“We believe exploitation is happening in this supermarket, and it must end.”

Hlekiso said the store’s management had refused to meet EFF members and the dismissed workers.

Armed police stood in front of the supermarket’s main entrance, preventing protesters from entering.

“We are going to make sure all of Sparg’s outlets within the province are closed down until the disputes are resolved,” Hlekiso said.

“They are using police protection, but we came here peacefully.”

A shop steward, who asked not to be named, said she was dismissed for not producing a sick note but argued that she had asked to take leave.

She said the dismissed workers were demanding their jobs back and back-pay for the months since they had been fired.

Sparg’s declined to comment.

In Mdantsane on Tuesday, regional EFF secretary Siya Rumbu visited a takeaway branch of KFC in NU13.

At issue were provident fund deductions, Rumbu said.

Some permanent workers had left the fast food outlet, fighting over the amount deducted from their salaries for their provident funds.

He claimed the company was “running away” from paying its share.

Rumbu said the party wanted a formal meeting with the fast-food company, saying the EFF was at the centre of the matter and could not be sidelined from discussions.

Hlekiso and Rumbu were expected to meet KFC representatives on Tuesday December 13.