This article is from The Times

Several angry KwaZulu-Natal Department of Home Affairs staff want to know why their bosses put colleagues up in posh Durban hotels even though they live in the city.

Five employees, who spoke on condition on anonymity, claim that nine junior contract staff and about 20 permanently employed officials, stayed at Protea hotels in Umhlanga and Umhlanga Ridge from May to July. All the officials, and two of the junior contract staff, live in Durban.

A month”s stay at the hotels could easily cost more than R35000 a person, and one the cost of a night”s accommodation ranges from R900 to R1500.

The angry staff members accept that accommodation was essential for the junior contractors, employed on a three-month contract to work at the King Shaka International Airport”s immigration office during the World Cup, because most of them did not live in the city.

“So, initially, they were the only ones staying in the hotels. But permanent staff started complaining,” said one of the staff. “Immediately staff members, working in the same immigration office, from Umlazi, KwaMashu, Newlands and Bonella and other townships around Durban, were told to come too and stay at the Protea Hotel.”

The staff claim that their anger has been causing tensions at the office but they are too afraid to speak up for fear of being fired.

One of the juniors, who lives in Durban, saidhe stayed at the hotel for three months and confirmed that permanent staff members had also stayed at hotels.

But another junior said the employees” anger was unjustified.

“Yes, I live in Durban and the permanent staff also live in Durban, but it was easier for us to be picked up from the same place instead of a driver going throughout town.”

But the disgruntled staff believe the department could instead have rented a house.

“Even if they got a reduced rate, there is a perception that there is corruption and that perception is affecting the way we work,” said another staff member.

The Department of Home Affairs has defended its decision to put up Durban staff in city hotels.

Chief director of Port Control Jacob Mamabolo yesterday convened an urgent meeting with the World Cup logistics team after The Times began to ask questions.

After the meeting, spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said staff had had to be “redeployed” to “increase capacity” at the ports in preparation for the World Cup.

“Given the nature of 2010 operations, it was necessary to place staff closer to the ports of entry to ensure there was capacity to handle unscheduled flights,” he said.

Mamoepa said the cost of the accommodation was in accordance with 2010 operational requirements and the department was satisfied that “there was value for money”.

A Protea group marketing manager said the department had been given a discount.

Image from The Times

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