To ensure that service delivery is not hindered, officials will work remotely from home and drop boxes have been placed in all the offices. The temporary closure is intended to allow all workers who may have been in contact with the infected official to be monitored, and for the offices to be decontaminated.

Mpumalanga Chief Director: Provincial Operations, Ms Margaret Mazibuko, confirmed that the official displayed flu like symptoms on Thursday last week, and then decided to test and his results came back positive for COVID-19.

The Official is stationed at the Provincial Office however, he had engagements with staff and clients at three of our Labour Centers between Tuesday and Thursday last week, to conduct training on Claims Processing, said Mazibuko.

The offices will remain closed from Monday 29 June 2020 until Tuesday 30 June 2020, to allow deep cleaning and disinfection protocol to take place. This will also allow workers who may have been in contact with the affected employee to self-isolate.

Thobile Lamati, Director-General of the Department has previously stated that the safety of staff remain paramount. "Our officials are an important cog of the working of the South African economy and as such, we will also ensure that they are as safe as possible", he said.

In the interim, clients are encouraged to use the online system or drop boxes placed in all its closed offices.

The case has also since been reported to the Department of Health.