ELECTIONS: Man loses job because he exercises his right to vote
BANNED DRIVER: Nymhardt Black (48) sits in the car with his wife Debbie Black (40) after voting and wait to speak to an IEC member to lodge their complaint. Photo: Luke Matthews
By: Palesa Tshandu and Anazi Zote
A tow-truck driver was fired from his job yesterday when his employer would not allow him to miss work to vote in yesterday’s general elections.
Nymhardt Black (48) who was an employee at A1 Assist in Industria, North Roodeport said he lost his job because he took off from work to cast his vote.
According to Black, his former employer told him to “come park your truck because you’re fired”. Black responded by saying, “We can’t get fired because we want to vote.”
The frustrated former employee lodged a complaint with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in the hopes of arguing for his right to participate in the elections.
The employer, who is a manager at the tow-trucking company refused to give Wits Vuvuzela comment on the matter.
Black, who is the sole bread winner in his family of four, does not regret losing his job in exchange for exercising his right to vote but said, “My wife is not happy that I got fired.”
He says the decision for leaving his job is also related to the working conditions at the company. His lack of regret for losing his job is also related to the bad working conditions at the company. He only earned R1300 per week, which amounted to R5200 per month while working the whole day, every day.
He does not wish to return to his former job but is currently looking for a new one.
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