BUTTERWORTH, Eastern Cape — A labour dispute at the Elite Bakery has left more than 90 employees in financial uncertainty after the facility ceased operations amid claims of unpaid wages, workplace violations, and the reported absence of its new proprietors.
Staff members report going without pay for over three months. The situation, which began with delayed salaries, has now resulted in a complete production stoppage, with delivery trucks idle and workers left without income or clear direction. Tensions peaked yesterday as employees moved from strike action to public protest.
According to worker testimony, the bakery’s environment changed markedly following a change in ownership late last year. Delivery drivers further allege they were required to work for extended periods under hazardous conditions, without sufficient safety equipment or access to injury compensation benefits. The ongoing impasse has intensified financial hardship for many families dependent on the bakery for livelihoods.
Local community groups have entered the fray, criticising management for failing to engage with affected staff. “They did not even have the decency to come and have a meeting with the workers. No decency to communicate with us,” said a spokesperson representing the community organisations. “We don’t want this firm to be closed… We are saying to the government: these workers have been here for years. They can make bread.”
The community advocates proposed an alternative path forward: if current leadership considers the business unviable, they urged authorities to provide workers with the resources to operate the bakery independently. “We can do it. We can lead this. We can manage this,” the spokesperson stated.
A spokesperson for Evoyant Technologies, which currently operates the bakery, responded that staff received payment for work performed between January and April of this year. The spokesperson clarified that any wage arrears accruing prior to the ownership transfer fall under the liability of the former proprietors. “The company is committed to resolving this matter through appropriate legal and labour processes,” the spokesperson affirmed.
As discussions remain at an impasse, the affected workers continue to await intervention from labour authorities or government bodies. The case highlights ongoing challenges surrounding business transitions, worker protections, and corporate accountability in the region’s manufacturing sector.
