Alberton UIF security guard assaulted by frustrated claimant

Frustration about poor service delivery at some Department of Labour’s Labour Centres is boiling over. A security guard at the Alberton Labour Center, east of Johannesburg, has been assaulted by an angry Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) claimant while managing a long queue of people who frequently visit the Centre to claim their UIF benefits, often to no avail.

The face of the country’s seemingly unending wave after wave of massive retrenchments. Some say they’ve been coming to the labour centre for months, desperate to claim their UIF benefits.

Retrenched worker, Secelo Dlamini, says they arrive as early as 4 am in order to be in front of the queue, hoping that will make them get the help they need. Unfortunately, it’s often not the case.

For many, even trying to file a claim online is not helping.

“Then at 10 O Clock, an official came out and cut the queue, telling the rest to go back home and come back another day. The Labour Centre does not have a manager,  it’s short-staffed,” says one of the people who at the department.

Earlier, a frustrated UIF claimant took out his anger on this Security Guard.

Gauteng Department of Labour Spokesperson, Sekhothali Lerotholi condemned the attempt to cut the queue early and force people to go back home.

She said the department will look into the matter.

Frustration over service delivery at some Department of Labour centres in SA: