WORKERS at courier company DHL have accused their white colleagues and management of racial discrimination.
WORKERS at courier company DHL have accused their white colleagues and management of racial discrimination.
The workers said the Polokwane management practised discrimination and is against employees joining unions.
Some of the workers, who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity, said yesterday they were called names including the "k" word.
They said a manager (whose name is known to Sowetan) had been doing as he pleased since joining the company in March last year.
About 30 workers said management comprised only white people who are "racist" towards them.
"The problem is that management does not want to engage its employees on matters that concern their work and it makes us feel unwelcome," one employee said.
The workers said the manager told them the company's head office in Heidelberg had given him permission to fire anyone he wanted to.
"We have been subjected to insults and find it difficult to cope with the situation," another employee said. "Head office is doing nothing to assist us."
He said five people had allegedly been fired after unsubstantiated allegations had been made against them.
All those fired had not received their payments.
The first person was fired in January and is still waiting for his pay. Another was fired on Monday after being accused of being involved with criminals.
"What normally happens is that the manager fabricates stories if he no longer wants an employee," the worker said.
"That gives him an excuse to to fire the employee."
The workers said they were considering taking the matter up with their legal representatives.
Attempts to get comment from DHL in Polokwane drew a blank yesterday.
But the company's human resources manager, Nicolene Davel, speaking from the firm's head office, said yesterday that there were procedures to be followed by the employees instead of going to the media.
DHL BOSSES ACCUSED OF RACISM
WORKERS at courier company DHL have accused their white colleagues and management of racial discrimination.
WORKERS at courier company DHL have accused their white colleagues and management of racial discrimination.
The workers said the Polokwane management practised discrimination and is against employees joining unions.
Some of the workers, who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity, said yesterday they were called names including the "k" word.
They said a manager (whose name is known to Sowetan) had been doing as he pleased since joining the company in March last year.
About 30 workers said management comprised only white people who are "racist" towards them.
"The problem is that management does not want to engage its employees on matters that concern their work and it makes us feel unwelcome," one employee said.
The workers said the manager told them the company's head office in Heidelberg had given him permission to fire anyone he wanted to.
"We have been subjected to insults and find it difficult to cope with the situation," another employee said. "Head office is doing nothing to assist us."
He said five people had allegedly been fired after unsubstantiated allegations had been made against them.
All those fired had not received their payments.
The first person was fired in January and is still waiting for his pay. Another was fired on Monday after being accused of being involved with criminals.
"What normally happens is that the manager fabricates stories if he no longer wants an employee," the worker said.
"That gives him an excuse to to fire the employee."
The workers said they were considering taking the matter up with their legal representatives.
Attempts to get comment from DHL in Polokwane drew a blank yesterday.
But the company's human resources manager, Nicolene Davel, speaking from the firm's head office, said yesterday that there were procedures to be followed by the employees instead of going to the media.