Maseru, March 08 — The Transport and Security Allied Union (TSAU) case representing MKM staff seeking unpaid salaries dating back to 2014 has since been postponed to next Tuesday.
This case was before the Directorate on Dispute and Prevention Resolution (DDPR) on Wednesday.
TSAU National Organiser, Mr. Thabo Tjotsane told the Agency on Thursday that the DDPR presiding judge instructed that the case be postponed to next week Tuesday, citing that all the 42 MKM applicants should have their own founding affidavits.
Mr. Tjotsane said he had only submitted the main applicant’s founding affidavits and the rest were supporting affidavits authorising that they concur to be party to the case in which they want the DDPR to intervene in their demands for unpaid wages and salaries dating back to 2014.
He said the DDPR cited that the applicants could not be represented by the main applicant alone since they held different positions at the MKM as some were drivers while others were working as cashiers and that they should have their own founding affidavits.
Even though Mr. Tjotsane said it would not be easy to collect all the necessary information from all the 42 MKM workers within the stipulated time, since some of the applicants stay as far as Mohale’s Hoek and will require transport to come to Maseru, he promised to do all he could to ensure that it will be readily available by next week.
‘’We would like to see this case being heard to its finality so that the applicants could get justice and that their full salaries due to them being paid’’ he highlighted.
The main applicant Mr. Tsoanelo Ranthamane when approached for comment said he suspected a foul play that the case could be postponed based on founding affidavits for all the 42 MKM workers to be presented before the DDPR for the court to proceed.
He said the reason why only the main applicant founding affidavits were filed was to protect some of the MKM staff members from being intimidated by their employer when they come face to face with him.
However, he said there was no problem saying they would do everything to ensure that the case proceeds to its finality.
The 42 MKM workers blocked the main entrance of the company late last year in one of their demands for their unpaid wages and salaries to be paid.
However, they found themselves in police custody where they were interrogated after MKM Managing Director sought the police intervention.
The MKM workers claim not to have been paid by the company way back to 2014 saying they were now struggling to make ends meet.
They were duly suspended and have been staying at home ever since.
