eMBALENHE – Local social workers have vowed not to return to work until the Department of Social Services (DSD) provides an adequate building to work in.
The DSD workers have not worked for over two months and the officials of the South African Social Security Agency have not worked for over a month.
According to the DSD workers, the head of department instructed them to vacate the offices after they have raised their concerns over the state of the building.
They said the department’s leadership visited the offices and agreed that it was not favourable.
It is an abestos building with 45 workers sharing 10 offices.
The workers alleged that both male and female workers had to share a bathroom.
“They told us to vacate the office, but never informed us where to go. In the first month, we daily reported for duty, but stayed outside the offices until we were tired.
“This is unfair to the beneficiaries. The department should act swiftly.”
The closure of these two critical offices has left hundreds of beneficiaries unattended and stranded.
Mr Joseph Zwane, beneficiary, said for the past two days he walked from eMbalenhle to Evander only to find the offices closed. He said when they go to neighbouring towns they are told to bring their files which are at the Evander offices.
Mr Xoli Mahlalela, the head of the DSD Mpumalanga, said the department is aware of the challenges at the Evander offices.
He said the closure of the office came after officials raised their concerns about the asbestos structure that was dilapidated.
He instructed them to vacate and move to the Sassa offices where two offices were given to them. They were also instructed to arrange office accommodation with other stakeholders in their offices.
“I told them that they need to register on duty every morning and then go out into the field. I was under the impression that our officials are working. I only recently learned that they were not happy with the two offices we arranged from them and that they decided to down their tools.
“According to the information I received, they allegedly influenced the Sassa officials to also down tools, because the building was overcrowded. They felt that the offices are not suitable for them and that there was no privacy for their clients. After reading the Ridge Times article on-line, I visited the Evander offices and met with the workers’ unions, the regional manager and Sassa’s head of department.
“We agreed that everything should be back to normal on Tuesday, 30 July.”
He added that DSD will operate at the Sassa offices as Sassa offered them an extra office. The waiting area will be partitioned and be used as a temporary office.
Mr Mahlalela said both Sassa and DSD agreed that they will work hard to address the backlog caused by this situation.
Sassa will also send trucks to ensure that clients are receiving the needed services.
He said the infrastructure development is handled by the Public Works, however, his department is putting pressure on Public Works to ensure the new offices are built soon.
“Public Works is currently working on appointing a service provider to install in a mobile office. They promised that seven days after the appointment they will begin installing the mobile offices.”
