Labour unions believe that officials are “worse off” following the issuance of a prohibition notice to the provincial office of the Department of Transport, Safety, and Liaison, located in the Ocean Echo Building in Kimberley.
LABOUR unions believe that officials are “worse off” since a prohibition notice was served on the provincial office of the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, situated at the Ocean Echo Building in Kimberley.
The building, dubbed the ‘Glass Palace’, was vacated with immediate effect on November 26 due to a lack of ventilation, lifts that are not operating, and occupational health and safety non-compliance.
Public Servants Association provincial manager Steve Ledibane said over 100 staff members were now scattered across different government offices and squeezed into overcrowded spaces.
“These working conditions are not conducive as up to six employees have to share a desk. Contravention notices were also served on the Office of the Premier and the Provincial Treasury at the Metlife Towers, where staff are occupying cramped offices and boardrooms. The chances of spreading illnesses in confined spaces are a real risk. Covid-19 has not vanished,” said Ledibane.
Contravention notices were issued in September to the Office of the Premier and the Provincial Treasury at the Metlife Towers due to a lack of ventilation, fire and safety hazards and problems with the lifts.
Ledibane added that some employees incurred additional travelling expenses as they had to catch two taxis to get to their alternative offices.
“This is while senior managers are permitted to work from home. Unions have not been consulted about these unacceptable working arrangements. There is also no indication as to when the defects will be rectified.”
He stated that all the equipment, desks and registry were left at the Ocean Echo Building.
“We do not know where permits and licences are being issued because the registry stores confidential information,” said Ledibane.
Public and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Pawusa) provincial organiser Nelson Mondela said they would request Parliament to investigate the circumstances surrounding the closure of the building.
“No communication has been forthcoming from the department,” said Mondela. “A fresh inspection must be conducted at all offices that our members are now occupying.”
National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) provincial secretary Moleme Moleme advised that alternative offices should be found.
“We object to the renewal of the lease of this building as it is unfit for occupation. It is believed that technicians were unable to repair the air conditioning at the Ocean Echo Building,” said Moleme.
He added that backlogs would increase because the public, as well as taxi operators, were unable to access services.
The spokesperson for the Department of Roads and Public Works, Zandisile Luphahla, stated that it was the responsibility of government departments to engage with building owners to ensure they were well-maintained.
The head of communications at the Office of the Premier (OTP), Monwabisi Nkompela, stated that they were accommodating 60 officials from the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.
“They moved into our building after a thorough assessment was done to ensure they are comfortably accommodated with colleagues from the OTP. Employees moved in with their working equipment and tools of trade. We are providing them with desks, chairs and workstations,” said Nkompela.
He added that the facility manager in the Office of the Premier was working with the team from the Employee Health and Wellness unit to ensure that all safety requirements were addressed by the owner of the building.
“Government values its employees and shall continue to do everything to ensure their safety and wellness at material times.”
Nkompela said all defects identified during an inspection that was conducted at the I&T building at 69 Memorial Road on September 24 had been addressed.
“The Department of Employment and Labour gave the Office of the Premier 90 days to respond. We have effectively attended to the occupational health and safety requirements within the prescribed period.”
He added that they were only instructed to attend to the ventilation.
“All our offices have sufficient natural as well as mechanical ventilation. The owner of the building has personnel on standby to fix air conditioners that are out of order. The lift has not malfunctioned since we took up occupation of the premises.”
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Kgalalelo Matsime, said the Provincial Treasury was not accommodating any officials from the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.
“Like any other department, they are assisted with boardrooms for their meetings and financial-related systems as and when requested,” said Matsime.
She added that they had attended to the upkeep and maintenance of the lifts, as well as all emergency exits and ventilation issues, following an inspection by the Department of Employment and Labour.
“The service provider appointed by the landlord is on-site installing the magnetic holders on the emergency doors. Extractors were installed in the basement to improve ventilation and the air conditioning system is functioning.”
Matsime stated that all four lifts were operating and maintained monthly.
“Staff can vacate the building during an emergency through the emergency exit doors.”
The Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison and the Department of Labour and Employment had not responded to media enquiries by the time of publication.
