Security man locks-out civil servants

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Wednesday March 24, 2010 00:00

 There are allegations that the three security guards based at DOSET offices in Gaborone have not been receiving their overtime dues for the past two years. It is alleged that the guard declared that he had enough with the attitude of officers responsible for processing overtime claims and he decided to lock out the offices. The police had to be called to get the guard to open the offices.

The security officer told Mmegi that he was taken to the police station and threatened that his finger-prints would be taken and this would result in his sacking. He said the department has been erratic in their payments saying officials would only process their overtime allowance when he threatens to lock them up.

The officer pointed out that he has a drivers' licence but every time he applied for a vacant post of a driver, his application would not be accepted. The officer pointed out that his applications to other government departments have also been sabotaged.

This is because government procedure is that serving officers must route their applications through their heads of department for recommendation. 'I have never been promoted or even recommended for appraisal as the people that I am having a problem with are my bosses,' the officer said. He added that he explored different options in order to resolve the matter without success. He said he met the DOSET director about his problems but he was given empty promises. The officer said he engaged trade unions, opposition politicians and labour department but to no avail. 'After some interventions by the labour department in 2008, they started paying our overtime allowance but stopped again without any explanation. When we confront the paying officers, they will tell us that they are not responsible for processing our overtime allowances, hence we should go away,' the security officer said.

The Central Police Station commander superintendent Kervin Mookodi said they are handling the matter but pointed out that it was a minor issue.

He stressed that the guard is likely to pay only P50 as admission of guilt fine. He said the matter was solved within a short period of time.