On Monday, 19 September 2022, Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors closed a building leased by the Department of Employment and Labour at Giyani Labour Centre in the Old Government Complex.
This comes after a section occupied by the Department was discovered to be non-compliant with the requirements of the following OHS Regulations: facilities regulations 9, which deals with sanitation facility maintenance.
“It is unfortunate that the building had to be closed during a time when clients require services. However, the health and safety of both employees and customers is a top priority. Inspectors are responsible for preventing any fatalities that may result from the such incidents,” said Acting Chief Director Provincial Operations Phaswane Tladi.
Tladi stated that the Department must set a good example so that others can see that the inspectorate is serious about compliance.
The Inspectorate unit’s services are unaffected by the closure because inspections are conducted on the field. At the provincial office, the processing unit will continue to process applications. Staff will be available outside the office from 07h30 to 10:00 a.m. to collect payment forms from clients who have already applied to ensure that payments continue.
The building will be closed until the landlord resolves the problem.
Seemingly, another OHS Inspector also closed the Department of Education in Polokwane on the 12 of September 2022 as they did not have a certificate of compliance, electrical wires were not covered and housekeeping was not conducive for working and they blocked fire extinguishers which may result in fatalities should there be fire.
A forklift found on the premises was prohibited from being used as it has never been tested and is operated by officials who were never trained. It was later discovered that employees of the said department violated the prohibition order and have been recommended for prosecution.
The building will remain closed until the Department of Education rectifies the issue, subsequent to that OHS inspectors will do a follow-up inspection to uplift the prohibition.
The department apologises for the inconvenience that has been caused by the closure. However, clients can still access services online at www.labour.gov.za or visit the nearest Labour Office in Malamulele.
Source: Government of South Africa