Labour inspector changes the lives of school learners in Musina

The 1st day of the 3rd term of school was nothing short of excitement for learners and teachers at Sigonde Primary School in Musina, Limpopo Province as the Department of Basic Education finally provided them with mobile classrooms.

This follows a prohibition notice issued by an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) inspector in May this year after a proactive inspection was conducted to check the level of compliance. During the inspection, the school was found not to be compliant with the OHS Act 85 of 1993 as amended - which specifies that if the state of the building threatens or is likely to threaten the health and/or safety of persons then the building should be prohibited with immediate effect from being occupied or continued used in terms of section 30 of the above said Act.

The inspector prohibited the school based on the following:

• The use of the grade 4 class had cracks at the door post which overlaps to the grade 5 class.

• Grade R, 1,4,5,6 and 7 had bats on the classroom roofs which poses danger to the health and safety of persons and may cause sickness, diseases and possible death.

The children and teachers who were alleged to have been off school due to the bat infestation are reported to have come back to the school. Despite the provision of mobile classes, the affected classrooms remain barred from occupation in that they are still in the condition under which they were prohibited.

Acting Provincial Inspector Mr Reckson Tshishivheli said, “the work done by the inspector is commendable and we are glad that it has yielded good results. Our inspectors will continue to enforce compliance in all sectors as the Department does not compromise the health and safety of persons”.

Employers are advised to act proactively and not to wait for inspectors to close buildings before they correct non-compliance as it disrupts the valuable education process for learners.

Tshishivheli said inspectors are not only focusing on school buildings, but other business operations that poses a threat to life may also be prohibited. Therefore, the department beseechs all employers in various sectors to ensure that their establishments comply with the OHS legislation, as closure of businesses has a negative impact not only on the employers but on the economy of the country as whole.

Source: Government of South Africa