“A credible investigator must be appointed to investigate the reported acts of misconduct.”
NATIONAL Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) members and employees of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (NCPL) handed over a petition yesterday, calling for an end to sexual harassment and gender-based violence at the workplace, following complaints that were made against two senior officials.
Nehawu demanded that the managers against whom the allegations were levelled be immediately suspended pending the outcome of internal investigations.
“The employer must not ignore or trivialise the complaint laid by the complainants. The complainants must be removed from their respective offices so that they are not continually exposed to the same threats.”
They added that the employer should provide the complainants with counselling and the necessary support.
“A credible investigator must be appointed to investigate the reported acts of misconduct.”
The petition that was handed over, urged the management of the NCPL to take the necessary steps to ensure that women and other vulnerable persons are protected in the work environment.
The Speaker of the NCPL, Newrene Klaaste, who received the petition, urged Nehawu members “to express the same energy in dealing with the widespread scourge of abuse within society as a whole, and to treat all cases of harassment with the same merit”.
She requested sufficient time to allow due processes and set policies to be followed.
