The Department of Employment and Labour in the North West has learned with shock a statement that was released by the Public Servants Association (PSA) with regard to a Coronavirus case at the Provincial office in Mmabatho, alleging that one official from the Unemployment Insurance Fund has tested positive to the virus and the Department acted recklessly in handling the matter.

The Department of Employment and Labour in North West wishes to put it on record that till today, 02/04/2020, the Department is not aware of any official from the Provincial Office who has tested positive to the virus.

However, the Department can confirm that it was approached by the Department of Health during its track and trace following a confirmed case of an auditor who was deployed at the provincial office tested positive to the virus. Following the alert, a list of all the officials who made contact with the auditor was shared with the Department of Health for further medical assessment as required and were ultimately placed under self-quarantine which is monitored by same.　

The Department acted accordingly and cooperated fully with the Department of Health and therefore, any accusations that the Department acted recklessly in handling the matter are unfounded and untrue. The Department is a responsible employer and will never compromise the health of its officials.

The Department also wishes to state that as a processing centre for Unemployment Insurance and Compensations Funds which are deemed essential services, few of its officials including Human Resources Management and the Inspection and Enforcement Services have been called in to render services to clients who use online application tools following the nationwide lockdown.

Therefore, the Department views a statement by PSA as malicious and misleading, as they did not even engage management to verify their facts.