CLAIM ADEQUATE SAFETY MEASURES WERE IN PLACE

THE GAUTENG Department of Health (GDoH) has denied allegations that senior officials had not taken steps to deal with complaints regarding safety issues at the Bank of Lisbon building.

Spokesperson Lesemang Matuka said head of department Mkhululi Lukhele appointed a senior manager to be responsible for Occupational Health and Safety matters at the head office, and that he had approved the establishment of an Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

Addressing issues currently faced by employees, Matuka said: “There is no exposure for any GDoH employee to any construction work (at 45 Commissioner Street). Most of the equipment used in the Bank of Lisbon was damaged in the fire.”

He said office equipment from 11 Diagonal Street and the Old Reserve Bank was in working condition and that it had been taken to the building on Commissioner Street to ensure staff functionality, following evacuations from the two buildings.

Matuka said the department was renting equipment until an acquisition process had been completed.

Gauteng government spokesperson Thabo Masebe said the Public Prosecutor would have to deal with matters raised in the complaint, as investigations into the cause of the fire were ongoing.

Masebe said the Department of Health was currently renting office space: “It means an inconvenience not only to the staff, but to the public.

“Heads of departments were instructed to ensure that there was minimal disruption to service and that everything should be done to ensure staff were able to continue working.” | Sibongile Mashaba