The Department of Labour recently announced that the dilapidated PC Pelser building in Klerksdorp is unsafe for humans to enter.
This building houses the Department of Labour, but also the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Courts.
According to Chris Hattingh, Matlosana constituency head, this announcement is long overdue. The infrastructure and general hygiene in the building pose serious safety and health risks to the residents who are forced to use the building every day.
“The infrastructure and general hygiene in the building pose serious safety and health risks to the residents who are forced to use the building every day. Now, the magistrates’ courts and the regional courts will be unable to continue with their caseloads, and this will cause a serious backlog in adjudicating criminal and civil cases,” he said.
The building was announced unsafe on Monday 27 March, but is still open for business today, Tuesday 28 March, continuing to expose people to this risky building.
The DA has undertaken to raise this issue in the Parliamentary Justice and Labour Committees and will also put formal parliamentary questions to both the Ministers. We demand national intervention and contingency plans how this crisis will be handled to ensure that the courts and daily activities of the Departement of Labour can commence in safe conditions.
“We demand national intervention and contingency plans how this crisis will be handled to ensure that the courts and daily activities of the Departement of Labour can commence in safe conditions,” said Hattingh.
It is believed that millions were spent on air conditioners a few years ago, but they only lasted for a few months as the necessary maintenance and general services were not done. The buildings are also not accessible to elderly people or the disabled as the lifts are not working.
“For years the Department of Public Works ignored the plight of those who have to work in the building and did not pay attention to the safety risks that are a result of no maintenance.The public restrooms are a disgrace and the building is functioning more often without water than with water. This leads to overflow of toilets, no drinking water and inhumane conditions. This is another excellent example of how the ANC fails the people,. The building was declared unsafe and we now need this urgent matter to be resolved as soon as possible by the ANC. Public servants and the public deserve to be safe and secure when entering government buildings.” said Hattingh in a statement.
