The Department of Employment and Labour's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Inspectors prohibited the occupancy/usage of the Soweto Labour Centre after the building was found to be non-compliant with OHS standards. The closure of the office at No. 2 Khumalo Road, Orlando West, Soweto follows a Prohibition, Contravention and Improvement notices issued by the Department's Inspectors who raised health and safety issues about the office.

As a responsible employer and public institution, the Department views Occupational Health and Safety regulations not merely as a legal obligation, but as an absolute moral and ethical imperative. Upon receiving the Prohibition, Contravention and Improvement notices the Department chose to implement an immediate and proactive pause on the operations until the issues raised are permanently corrected. At the same time, the Department is currently engaging the landlord of the building through the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as the custodian of all government leases.

Furthermore, the Department is implementing a contingency plan to ensure that service delivery continues. This includes deploying staff members to neighbouring offices to overcome the influx of clients. In this regard, the Department wishes to inform the members of the community and our clients that the premises will be inaccessible until the building is confirmed compliant by our OHS Inspectors.

In order to continue providing excellent services to clients throughout the closure period, our digital portals remain 100% operational and alternative walk-in branches such as Maponya Thusong Service Centre, Randburg and Roodepoort labour centres have been adequately capacitated.

The Department will provide updates through its official channels, www.labour.gov.za, Instagram, Facebook and X.

For media inquiries, please contact: Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour​

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