Months after vacating the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) Munifin building due to its filthy state, BCM workers yesterday moved back into the offices, while work continues on some sections of the building.
The building’s derelict state made news headlines last year after hundreds of BCM workers from the revenue management, billing and licensing departments, downed tools in protest against the hazardous working conditions at the facility.
The workers complained of huge rats, thick spiderwebs on the walls, plants growing through walls and unstable flooring. The Daily Dispatch exposed the poor state of the building, which reeked of urine and sewage.
Rooms underground were also overtaken by mould and there was concern over a mosquito invasion which posed a health risk to workers.
The Department of Labour gave BCM an ultimatum of 60 days to fix the building after a labour inspection by them in October.
In his state of the metro address, executive mayor Alfred Mtsi said the refurbishment project had begun at the Munifin building in an effort to deal with the matter that has previously caused tensions between workers and management.
“It is expected to continue over a period of three years,” Mtsi said.
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that 35 staff members from the billing department were temporally moved to the debt management building in Commercial Road so the building could be refurbished.
“The projects are undertaken in stages and staff are moving back on completion on the different floors.
“The majority of the staff members had already moved back and this process should be finalised within the next two weeks,” Cindi said.
Asked how much the metro had set aside for the refurbishments, Cindi had not responded by the time of going to print.
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) regional secretary, Zolani Ndlela, said the workers were pleased to see the metro finally doing something about the appalling working conditions.
He said: “We believe the conditions have improved however we still want a report from the department of labour to assure us if indeed the building is in a good working condition.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Employees back as BCM revamps Munifin
The building’s derelict state made news headlines last year after hundreds of BCM workers from the revenue management, billing and licensing departments, downed tools in protest against the hazardous working conditions at the facility.
The workers complained of huge rats, thick spiderwebs on the walls, plants growing through walls and unstable flooring. The Daily Dispatch exposed the poor state of the building, which reeked of urine and sewage.
Rooms underground were also overtaken by mould and there was concern over a mosquito invasion which posed a health risk to workers.
The Department of Labour gave BCM an ultimatum of 60 days to fix the building after a labour inspection by them in October.
In his state of the metro address, executive mayor Alfred Mtsi said the refurbishment project had begun at the Munifin building in an effort to deal with the matter that has previously caused tensions between workers and management.
“It is expected to continue over a period of three years,” Mtsi said.
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that 35 staff members from the billing department were temporally moved to the debt management building in Commercial Road so the building could be refurbished.
“The projects are undertaken in stages and staff are moving back on completion on the different floors.
“The majority of the staff members had already moved back and this process should be finalised within the next two weeks,” Cindi said.
Asked how much the metro had set aside for the refurbishments, Cindi had not responded by the time of going to print.
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) regional secretary, Zolani Ndlela, said the workers were pleased to see the metro finally doing something about the appalling working conditions.
He said: “We believe the conditions have improved however we still want a report from the department of labour to assure us if indeed the building is in a good working condition.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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