Pretoria – Workers are not happy at Freedom Park, where they say things are not going well.
Situated on Salvokop in Pretoria, the serene yet somber atmosphere at the shrine in honour of fallen liberation heroes belies the silent cry of the suffering of workers.
Privately, the workers say they dare not complain too loudly because they have witnessed a lot to know better.
For most of this week, workers at Freedom Park said more pressure had been exerted by bosses who are trying to find out who has been complaining about them and speaking to the media about the goings on at Freedom Park.
Discontented staff describe a workplace ruled by fear, where tribalism, homophobia, unfair dismissals, and favouritism rule.
Concerned workers also point to the outsourcing of legal work – at a huge cost – to deal with errant staff as another bone of contention.
Several workers at Freedom Park have confided in The Bulrushes on condition of anonymity.
They even made available to The Bulrushes a copy of a letter they wrote to the deputy minister of sport, arts, and culture that outlined numerous grievances affecting the staff complement of about 70 employees.
In their letter dated 26 February 2024, the “concerned workers” requested the deputy minister’s intervention.
Freedom Park is tasked with an extraordinary mandate of honouring the heroes and heroines that have sacrificed their lives for freedom and humanity.
“However, in recent times Freedom Park has been in both public media and Parliament news for nefarious reasons that tend to compromise and dilute the magnitude and significance of this national entity,” wrote the concerned workers.
“Freedom Park has been turned into a sectarian organisation that promotes ethnic values that are informed by tribal instincts.
“In addition to this horrendous action, Freedom Park has been embroiled in corruption of high proportions and maladministration.”
The letter to the deputy minister follows an earlier request to Parliament via the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport, arts, and culture, requesting it to probe, among other things, allegations that CEO Jane Mufamadi spent more than R700 000 of Freedom Park’s money to buy a luxury German car for her sole use.
In previous media reports management rejected the allegations as false saying the Mercedes-Benz was one of the few pool cars Freedom Park owns.
In the letter to the deputy minister, the workers said they have documentary proof of the litany of allegations they were making.
The Bulrushes has asked management at Freedom Park to comment, but they have not done so.
