Officials to vacate ‘sick’ building

Finance MEC Oscar Mabuyane has reached a compromise with union members to move government employees from a building plagued by health risks to one that was formerly leased by the department of safety & liaison in King William’s Town.

A fortnight ago, staff from the social development & economic development department had to be evacuated in dramatic fashion following a gas leak detected in the building.

Compliance reports from the Buffalo City Municipality and the department of labour declared the building unfit for humans.

Mabuyane, during a site visit on Tuesday, suggested bussing the workers from King William’s Town to East London on a daily basis, but workers raised concerns about working in East London and a compromise was reached.

As from Wednesday, 200 workers will move to the old Standard Bank building in King William’s Town. Union reps said the bulk of staff members were from the department of social development.

Mabuyane pleaded with workers to ensure that governance did not collapse.

“My chief of staff will also be in every meeting to make sure nothing deadlocks,” he said.

Mabuyane described workers’ conditions as “dehumanising”. “It’s dangerous. I think we’ve allowed the situation to go on unabated for long.”

Unathi Xatase, Nehawu secretary for the Dedea branch, said about 500 workers from the department of social development were affected by the saga.

The building in question houses both economic affairs workers and more than 300 staff members of the department of social development.

The DA's Kobus Botha said the state continued to renew the lease despite knowing the building was unsafe.