Flush out those who bend rules
It is still too early to establish the cause of the fire that claimed the lives of three firefighters in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
But from the statements by the authorities and government employees operating from the building, it appears the structure had been an accident waiting to happen.
According to Gauteng MEC for infrastructure development Jacob Mamabolo the building, which houses the departments of health, human settlements and cooperative governance, was only 21% compliant with safety regulations. He revealed that it was one of eight buildings used by the provincial government considered unsafe.
It also emerged that shop stewards who raised the issues of safety on behalf of the workers were hounded out of their jobs by their bosses.
According to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, workers have been complaining about the building since 2014. There are reports that Wednesday’s fire was the third in the building since the beginning of this year.
Had staff concerns been listened to and addressed, maybe the three lives would not have been lost.
It is concerning that this tragedy took place in a government building. The state is supposed to, among other things, enforce adherence to safety and health standards in all places of work.
But if a government can flout its own rules, regulations and legislation, can we depend on it to ensure all of us are safe?
Mamabolo has promised a commission (of inquiry) into the fire and the allegations that workers had raised concerns without being listened to.
While we welcome such steps, it is important that drastic measures are taken against those who may have neglected their duties.
The government also has the obligation to lead by example by ensuring none of its employees are forced to work from unsafe buildings.
There is a lot of talk among government employees, especially in Gauteng, that lives are being risked as tenders to run and maintain buildings that are used by departments are given to individuals and businesses with little capacity to do so. An investigation into the fire should look into all those issues.