Social workers at a social development office in Mthatha have been turning away clients for more than two months because there is no water at the premises.
The workers at the office in Stanford Terrace, who spoke to the Daily Dispatch on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak to the media, yesterday confirmed the problem.
The office has reportedly been without water for nearly three months.
“We have no choice but to turn some people away everyday,” said one of the social workers.
“It’s a really sad, sad situation but there is no water.
“The toilets are clogged because there is no water for flushing.”
The employee said an unbearable stench hung in some of the rooms in the building as a result.
“The place is smelly but we are expected to continue working here.”
If they need the toilet, staff members and even clients are sometimes forced to use a bushy area near the building. “It’s not safe, especially for the women. Because of this we go home by 11am everyday.
“You can’t work in a place where there are no proper ablution facilities,” said another social worker.
Workers said management was aware of the problem but nothing had been done. “They just don’t care about our welfare.”
A Daily Dispatch team that visited the offices yesterday was greeted by a notice at the main entrance which warned that social workers were only available until 11am due to water problems.
A woman, who identified herself as the manager but refused to give her name, declined to comment on the matter saying she did not have the authority to speak to the media.
Social development spokeswoman in the OR Tambo district, Nomasakhe Nonxuba, admitted the problem but said the building was owned by the department of public works. She said the problem was caused by a leaking water pipe outside the building.
Public works provincial spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said water problems outside the building were the responsibility of the district municipality.
A comment from district municipality spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa could not be sourced at the time of writing yesterday.
Social development offices without water for two months
The workers at the office in Stanford Terrace, who spoke to the Daily Dispatch on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak to the media, yesterday confirmed the problem.
The office has reportedly been without water for nearly three months.
“We have no choice but to turn some people away everyday,” said one of the social workers.
“It’s a really sad, sad situation but there is no water.
“The toilets are clogged because there is no water for flushing.”
The employee said an unbearable stench hung in some of the rooms in the building as a result.
“The place is smelly but we are expected to continue working here.”
If they need the toilet, staff members and even clients are sometimes forced to use a bushy area near the building. “It’s not safe, especially for the women. Because of this we go home by 11am everyday.
“You can’t work in a place where there are no proper ablution facilities,” said another social worker.
Workers said management was aware of the problem but nothing had been done. “They just don’t care about our welfare.”
A Daily Dispatch team that visited the offices yesterday was greeted by a notice at the main entrance which warned that social workers were only available until 11am due to water problems.
A woman, who identified herself as the manager but refused to give her name, declined to comment on the matter saying she did not have the authority to speak to the media.
Social development spokeswoman in the OR Tambo district, Nomasakhe Nonxuba, admitted the problem but said the building was owned by the department of public works. She said the problem was caused by a leaking water pipe outside the building.
Public works provincial spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said water problems outside the building were the responsibility of the district municipality.
A comment from district municipality spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa could not be sourced at the time of writing yesterday.
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