HR Pulse

Sanral employees may face retrenchment

It seems that the controversy surrounding the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and the e-toll systems will never cease. According to recent reports, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) has claimed that employees of Sanral had approached them following the news that some of these employees would be retrenched at the end of April.

Meanwhile, Sanral has denied that it is experiencing financial problems and says that it will continue to operate as long as motorists pay their e-toll fees.

According to EyeWitnessNews, Sanral has said that South African motorists have run up a bill of over half a billion rand in overdue fees since the system's inception in December.

The total amount owed by Gauteng motorists is approximately R620 million.

Inge Mulder, Sanral CFO, said that she can't confirm if there will be staff retrenchments at Sanral.

"I cannot confirm that. It can only be the operator ETC, and they haven't indicated to me that they are going to do that or need to do it."

If Sanral staff are currently facing possible retrenchments and motorists continue not to settle their e-toll debts, what will happen to them if the e-toll system collapses altogether?

Frew Murdoch is the assistant editor of HR Pulse. She has a BA degree in communications and English and a passion for HR technology. Christine Botha, co-author of 'Ethics in HR Management: A guide for HR professionals and line managers', had this to say: "I stumbled across your review of our Ethics Guide published 28 June 2012 and wish to thank you for the positive and complimentary comments made – this was a lovely surprise and most rewarding. I will certainly pass this on to all co-authors of the Guide."