Green City estate guards paid with food parcels
Lesotho residents guarding Green City Estate receive monthly food parcels for 12-hour shifts.
Residents of Ha Abia are guarding the Green City Estate for up to 12 hours daily in exchange for monthly food parcels, a practice condemned by Labour Minister Tšeliso Mokhosi and MP Thuso Makhalanyane. The residents patrol the estate, prevent livestock from entering, and stop unauthorised people from accessing the property. Green City director Mahesh Patel stated the arrangement is voluntary community policing, not employment.
The food parcels provided to 10 selected residents include 12.5kg of maize meal, 12.5kg of bread flour, two litres of cooking oil, 2kg of beans, and 10 cartons of 500ml milk. Some residents feel the groceries are inadequate compensation for their demanding duties and have expressed dissatisfaction. An attempt to negotiate cash payments resulted in an offer of M550 per month.
The estate management initially arranged for a heater in a guardroom but removed it after residents raised concerns about their compensation. The arrangement was facilitated through local chiefs who identified residents willing to monitor the vast development's boundaries at Ha Pena-Pena.
Why it mattersResidents of Ha Abia are receiving inadequate compensation in the form of food parcels for their security work at the Green City Estate.