Pretoria - There is no stopping the Department of Employment and Labour’s mega blitz campaign, which has so far led to the complete shutdown of a wholesaler and school in Pretoria for non-compliance with the laws and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
On day three of the campaign to track and monitor compliance with labour legislation in Gauteng, the department shut down ABC Sweet’s wholesalers in Pretoria on the corner of Edmund and Du Toit streets.
The department reported that its inspectors “completely shut down” the wholesale and retail facility after it was found to be non-compliant with the law.
The notice will remain in effect and only be revoked when the company is issued with a compliance certificate.
According to the department, during the unannounced visit there were about 10 undocumented illegal foreign nationals who were apprehended by the Department of Home Affairs immigration services.
The week-long inspections in the province have targeted the wholesale, retail and hospitality sectors to verify the level of compliance with labour legislation, and according to the department, so far had proven that a number of employers within the targeted sectors were continuing to undermine South African labour legislation.
In “leaving no stone unturned” yesterday, inspectors said they intervened after noticing pupils peering through windows from a two-storey building of the Purpose Finder Academy.
In accordance with Section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the department reported it had to force the closure of the combined school in the Pretoria CBD with immediate effect.
The Purpose Finder Academy housed at 404 Testimony House was reportedly prohibited from operating because the number of students in the classrooms exceeded the space provided by the school.
It was also prohibited from operating due to building or facility ventilation challenges at the school, as indicated by Department of Education inspectors, who found no natural or mechanical ventilation in the classrooms.
Therefore it has been prohibited from continuing to operate until the identified matters have been rectified.
Retail online giant Takealot also said it was unaware of any labour laws contraventions and would not knowingly employ anyone who was undocumented.
The largest online retail company released a statement after it landed in hot water with the department, which found that the company’s Kempton Park warehouse was in contravention of a number of health and safety regulations during its mega blitz inspection in Gauteng this week.
The department reported that during an inspection of the company’s warehouse it had arrested 11 undocumented foreign nationals and two employers.
Inspectors said they found that the company contravened a number of Occupational Health and Safety Act regulations and was not complying with the Unemployment Insurance Fund act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
The department’s inspectors picked up that there were parts of the facility which posed an immediate danger to its workers on site.
They issued three prohibition notices to prevent them from allowing contractors on-site with step-ladders without non-skid rubber; and storing chemicals in a general storage area on racks, in that they are flammable.
However, following the visit, Takealot said it was fully committed to complying with all laws and providing a safe working environment for all staff.
“We are aware of the notices issued by the Department of Employment and Labour in relation to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“Takealot will work to comply with the department’s requirement for remedial action to be taken within the next 60 days."
“However, we are unaware of any contravention or non-compliance related to the Unemployment Insurance Fund Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act as alleged by the Department.”
Takealot said it applied stringent procedures with regard to the verification of staff identification and qualifications.
They also stressed that they adhered to the industry standard of conducting background and criminal checks on permanent and semi-permanent hires.
“Takealot would not knowingly employ anyone undocumented or who has provided fake documents.
“Takealot is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and will address any alleged gaps,” it said.
The mega blitz campaign officially started in 2020 in the Eastern Cape, and Gauteng is the eighth province to be checked by the department’s labour inspectors, to be followed by the Northern Cape.
Pretoria News