WORKERS at this municipality are gatvol.
The bad smell and windowless Emfuleni municipal offices forced employees to work outside next to the door, helping residents.
Workers said many of them are now sick because of the bad smell in their offices, and some wear face masks.
On Monday morning, 27 November, Emfuleni Local Municipality employees gathered outside their offices in Vanderbijlpark as the heatwave hit Gauteng, helping residents while seated outside their offices because it was very hot in their offices and there were no windows to cool the heat down.
The embattled municipal employees told Daily Sun that the building is not compliant, not in a state to keep people inside, and also not safe to keep files anymore as there’s no more space and files are all over.
“We've been complaining about the condition of the building to our management since 2019 but nothing has been done. Now we have decided not to work inside these offices anymore but rather sit outside. Our health comes first,” said an angry employee.
According to another employee, the building has no windows and when it rains, they go home as there will be water everywhere, and when it’s hot it becomes another problem as there are no air-conditioners installed.
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“The building smells badly and when one thinks of coming to work every day, we get stressed. What's even worse is that there's no space for new files in the filing room and files are all over the tables,” she said.
The building has different departments, such as land use management, building control, properties, and human resources.
On the other hand, Emfuleni Municipality spokesman Makhosonke Sangweni said the management is aware of the working conditions endured by the employees, and it’s promptly, seriously attending to worker’s grievances as some have financial implications.
“Unions, Management and all stakeholders will work together to find a long-lasting solution,’ said Sangweni.
