Union slams Home Affairs for ignoring safety warnings at Kuruman office

THE PUBLIC Servants Association (PSA) in the Northern Cape said it was "business as usual" at the Department of Home Affairs’ large office in Kuruman despite an electricity board that exploded.

PSA provincial manager Steve Ledibane said the office was issued with a prohibition notice on February 28 following an inspection by the Department of Employment and Labour.

"The notice prohibits the use of the whole building after its electricity distributing board exploded on the same day. The office should not be occupied by any person until its safety is determined by the fire department or the fault has been rectified," said Ledibane.

He added that the continued use of the office was in clear contravention of the directive from the relevant authority.

"This cannot be allowed to happen. The PSA continues to stand against this abuse of power. Our members cannot be expected to continue working in a potentially dangerous place." 

The Department of Employment and Labour did not respond to media enquiries at the time of publication.