The Rep 4 June 2021

2 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 4 June 2021 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
Siganga retires after 40 years
Chris Hani district police commissioner lauded as a mentor and mother who leaves proud legacy
REP REPORTER
The Chris Hani district last
week bade farewell to its
district police
commissioner, Maj Gen Funeka
Siganga, who has served the
SAPS for more than 40 years.
Her resounding send-off
included an operational march
down Cathcart Road in Komani
followed by a medal parade
where Siganga handed out
medals to members who have
given 10 to 30 years of loyal
service.
Both senior managers and
peers shared their heartfelt
accolades for their leader and
m e n t o r.
Many described her as a
“mother” and wished her a
well-deserved retirement.
One of the members who
worked during Siganga’s tenure,
Col Mike Glober, expressing his
appreciation to his former
commander, said: “You have
moulded me in so many ways
and because of your guidance, I
am proud to say you have made
such an impact in my life, both
personally and professionally.
“You have left a legacy for
others, you have served the
people of South Africa, you
were part of the change, you
END OF THE ROAD: Chris
Hani district police
commissioner, Maj Gen
Funeka Siganga, retires from
the SAPS, after having joined
the service in 1980 P i c t u re :
SUPPLIED
have conquered it all and we
wish you a healthy and a happy
r e t i r e m e n t .”
Among those who attended
was Chris Hani district CPF
chairperson Mava Sirhalarhala,
who thanked Siganga for her
constant support.
Provincial commissioner, Lt
FAREWELL DRILL: The Komani CBD was brought to a standstill last Friday as police and traffic officers were led by the Eastern Cape
police band in a drill to celebrate the retirement ceremony of major general Funeka Siganga Picture: SUPPLIED
Gen Liziwe Ntshinga said: “I am
here, not as a provincial
commissioner, but as a family
member. We have come a long
way and it has been such a
privilege to grow in front of you.
“You have always
maintained discipline and this is
surely evident in the members
who served under you in this
district. Although you are
leaving us at a critical time, you
have served your province and
your country well and now I say
to you, go well Mantsundu and
a very happy retirement.”
In her farewell speech,
Siganga took the attendees
down memory lane. “My
journey in the SAPS has not
been easy - it was never meant
to be - but it was worth it. When
I answered my calling by joining
the SAPS in June 1980, I did not
know I would make it this far.
“I am consumed with so
many emotions right now, but
one thing is for sure - I am
grateful to have come across
people such as you. You have
made this journey meaningful to
me.
“Today I leave you with this
message, and that is to believe
in yourselves and not be afraid
to fly and go solo,” she said.
Foreign shop owners cry out
LUVUYO MJEKULA
Some Pakistani nationals who live and own shops
in Komani say they constantly fear for their lives
and have called on the police to protect them. In a
letter to Komani police and CPF chairperson Mihle
Gogela, the Pakistan SA Association in the “Border
zone” requested a meeting with the commissioner
PORK STRIPS / RASHERS (TRAYS ONLY)
BEEF CHUCK FRESH
MUTTON SHOULDER CHOPS
GRANDMA BOEREWORS
MABOVULA MINCE
CHICKEN NECKS (SKIN ON)
BACON SHOULDER 1KG
TOP CLASS SPICE MIX 500G CHILLY
DRINK-O-POP 200ml
REBOOST ENERGY DRINK 500ml ORIGINAL
BUTTERNUT 3KG
FROZEN PEAS LOOSE
R59.99 KG
R72.99 KG
R99.99 KG
R59.99 KG
R44.99 KG
R16.99 KG
R79.99 EA
R21.99 EA
R 6.99 EA
R 7.99 EA
R14.99 EA
R23.99 KG
WE ARE OPEN SUNDAY 6 th JUNE 2021
E&OE-WHILE STOCKS LAST- LIMITED QUANTITIES
- WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW SPECIALS WITHOUT
NOTICE SPECIALS ARE VALID FROM THE 04th TO THE 06th OF JUNE.
SPECIALS VALID FOR THE
4 TH TO THE 6 TH JUNE 2021
e in Komani.
The association’s general
secretary, Mian Mudassar Naseer,
who delivered a copy of the letter to
The Rep offices, said they felt let
down by members of the SAPS.
Naseer said burglary and theft
incidents were reported to the
police and criminal cases opened,
but the rate of crime continued to
increase.
He said even when arrests were
made, they received no information
from the police.
“The foreign nationals living in
Queenstown request a meeting with
your office to address matters
concerning the escalating number
of break-ins in our business
premises/ shops and theft of our
g o o d s ,” the letter states. “We are
also of the opinion that only
businesses of foreign nationals are
being targeted by these
perpetrators. “Every day there is an
incident of theft at a foreign
national’s shop in Queenstown.
“We have reported break-ins
and theft of goods to your
honorable office at the Queenstown
police station and cases have been
opened.
¿
24 Prince Alfred Street, Komani
PO Box 453, Komani, 5319
045 839 4040 / Fax: 045 839 4059
Chris van Heerden, vanheerdenc@arena.africa
Luvuyo Mjekula, mjekulal@therep.co.za
Charodine Visagie, charodinev@therep.co.za
www.therep.co.za
@RepKomani
“We have not received any
responses on progress in these
c a s e s .”
A record detailing break-ins and
threats was attached to the letter. “In
some incidents, perpetrators were
apprehended but we were not
informed if any of these were still in
custody, on bail or released.
“We live in constant fear, not
only with theft-related matters but
ultimately, our own lives too.”
As law-abiding foreign nationals
who operate their businesses
according to the country’s laws, the
group says they deserve protection.
“We have tried within our
means to render our services in
honesty, transparency and a
peaceful manner. “We contribute
economically to Queenstown by
providing job opportunities to some
unemployed people and donate
towards projects involved in poverty
alleviation.
“We ask for the SAPS to protect
us and our businesses as we strive to
ensure a better South Africa for all.”
Komani police spokesperson,
Capt Namhla Mdleleni had not
replied to questions by the time of
going to print.
The Rep Komani
the_rep_komani
The Rep subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online
Media that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up
ŽŚĞŽĚĞŝŚŝŶĚĂŽĨŚĞĚĂĞŽĨďůŝĐĂŽŶŽĨŚĞŵĂĞŝĂůůĞĂĞĐŽŶĂĐŚĞ
ďůŝĐĚŽĐĂĞĂĨĂŽĐĂŶĂůŽĐŽŶĂĐŽĂĞĸĐĞŽŶ
ŬŚĂŶŝŵΛŽŵďĚŵĂŶŽŐĂŽůŽĚŐĞĂĐŽŵůĂŝŶŽŶŽĞďŝĞĞĐŽŶĐŝůŽŐĂ
Staff told to selfisolate
after strike
ZINTLE BOBELO
Massmart employees affiliated to
the South African Commercial,
Catering and Allied Workers
Union (Saccawu) who took part
in the three-day national strike
last week were instructed not to
return to work and to self-isolate
after management raised Covid-
19 concerns.
Union organiser Fuzeka Hoho
said the unrest followed changes
to employment conditions and
retrenchments, among other
issues, by Massmart, which ow n s
Game, Makro, Builder’s
Warehouse and Jumbo.
“These unilateral changes are
not communicated to employees
who were told to sign new
c o n t ra c t s ,” she said.
Saccawu provincial chair
Solomzi Mnyamana said: “Th e r e
are workers who have worked for
more than 20 years but due to
these changes, their salaries have
been reduced.
“How can they give exorbitant
salaries to CEOs while workers on
the ground are given peanuts?”
He said a memorandum with
a list of demands was handed
over on Friday including “the
reversal of all forms of
unilateralism, commitment to
social dialogue and respect for
the union and the restoration of
terms and conditions of
employment that existed prior to
the restructuring”.
The workers demanded a
response within seven days,
failing which, the union would be
forced to engage in mass action.
One of the workers, Masithini
Sompondo, said: “We are left in
the dark. People who were
employed as supervisors are
turned to general workers with no
explanation. These are some of
the things we have to endure as
Massmart employees.
“We want to be consulted and
for the company to undergo
proper channels of
c o m m u n i c a t i o n .”
Game stores shop steward,
Luyanda Dlongodlongo, said
workers were forced to sign
contracts or face retrenchments.
“People here have
responsibilities and have made
plans for them, and then to suffer
retrenchments. Steps and
necessary procedures and
engagements with the union
should have been taken to avoid
this from happening.”
The workers were given letters
by Massmart management which
indicated a breach of Covid-19
protocols during the strike action.
“The global economy is facing
an unprecedented threat from the
Covid-19 pandemic and as a
country we are on the brink of a
third wave.
“The health and safety of our
customers, associates and
communities remain our priority.
“We confirm that during the
Saccawu strike you participated
in protest marches in breach of
Covid-19 health safety protocols.
“You failed or neglected to
wear a mask and to observe the
necessary social distancing
p r o t o c o l s .”
The letter instructed the staff to
self-isolate for seven days, which
would be treated as annual leave
or unpaid leave, depending on
whether they had available l e ave .
The workers were due to
return to work on Monday, only if
they did not have any Covid-19
symptoms.