Employees unhappy with Minister’s ‘silence’

Employees for the Department of Social Development (DSD) based at the Lower uMfolozi Welfare office in Ngwelezane have expressed their displeasure at the ‘silence’ of the MEC for Social Development, Weziwe Thusi, on the closure of their office.

One employee who spoke to the Zululand Observer on condition of anonymity said they wrote a letter to the DSD, through the district office, in which they requested a meeting with MEC Thusi, but nothing has happened to date.

‘We were worried that our political head has not even bothered to come here to address us, as her employees, on what is the way forward.

‘Some of us have had to do our work on pavements.

‘We find it difficult to conduct our business here, as we would need some privacy with our clients.

‘Even those offices that are far from Ngwelezane do not have adequate resources like computers and desks.

‘We are shocked to see our Provincial Minister on national television, responding to this matter, admitting that she was aware of the closure of the offices, yet she has not addressed us,’ said an irate employee.

DSD Media Liaison Officer, Ncumisa Fandesi said it was not true that the MEC has been silent on the matter.

She said the Department released a statement last week informing the public that their workers have been moved elsewhere.

‘Staff from the office have been temporarily moved to offices in Richards Bay, eSikhawini, Magistrates’s Office and Ngwelezane Child and Youth Care Centre.’

She said field workers will continue with their field work.

‘A few staff members have been left at the gate to direct members of the public to these offices while the Department of Public Works finalises the process of securing alternative space.’

The Welfare office in Ngwelezane was closed down by the Department of Labour three weeks ago, after declaring it unsafe.

This was after the intervention of a workers’ union the National Union of Public Servants and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) which raised concern about the poor condition of the building.