ERINDI – “Our people are our most valuable asset,” said co-owner of Erindi, Paul Joubert, during an interview with New Era last week.
“We are willing to sign a management agreement with the new owners of Erindi to keep all the 230 staff members in place. We are a family here,” he said.
Meanwhile, the older of the two owners, Gert Joubert, echoed the same sentiments, saying: “I do not want to retrench [any] one of the 230 people who work here. We are willing to take over the management from the new owners but, of course, whoever buys Erindi can appoint anyone to manage the reserve.”
The older Joubert emphasized how he ensures a monthly staff meeting is held at Erindi to specifically deal with uncertainty regarding job security and to deal with any new developments.
He stressed the amount of in-service training being conducted at Erindi.
When New Era spoke to some of the staff members at Erindi all admitted that a very good communications structure is in place where staff can air their grievances or related matters.
Many of the staff members, however, expressed concern about the Jouberts putting the game reserve up for sale, saying they were uncertain about their future at Erindi.
“We have numerous cases of people opting to leave our employment once they hear that we are selling the place,” said Paul Joubert.
When New Era visited the staff village at Erindi it was pointed out only non-white staff members live in the staff village, regardless of their rank.
Staff members noted with concern even when a new white staff member is appointed they are accommodated in what seems to be whites-only staff accommodation. “Even when a black person is a middle or senior manager they are still expected to live in the non-white staff village,” said one concerned employee. “Conditions here at Erindi are very good but at times it can be like the stripes on a zebra, a clear separation between black and white,” said another staff member requesting anonymity.