An unhealthy working environment and equipment shortages are but a few of the grievances employees of Kempton Park Library lodged nearly two years ago, on February 15, 2017.
Despite a ruling by management on March 23, 2017, that the issues would be addressed, little to no action has been taken.
“Our working circumstances are horrible,” an employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told Express.
“The air conditioners are not working. It gets so hot it’s hard to breathe, and I feel sorry for our elderly visitors,” the source said. According to the source, this problem started as early as 2014.
Occupational health and safety practitioner Thibe Ramushu ruled on April 6, 2016, that staff and members of the public were prohibited from using the staff workroom, computer room and activity room.
“Continued occupation [of these facilities] may cause [people] to suffer sick building syndrome. I will consider revoking this prohibition only after arrangements to my satisfaction have been made,” Ramushu’s statement read.
In the meantime, windows were opened and fans were placed in the library to allow some ventilation, but a centre with working computers remains closed. Visitors make use of the few computers available.
According to documentation obtained by Express, R3-million was budgeted to fix the air conditioners, which work via a central unit for the entire civic centre. A ruling signed by Willy Kekana, chairperson of Ekurhuleni Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Department, stated that this issue, as well as others, be addressed by senior management and the real estate senior management before the end of 2017.
According to spokesperson for the City Themba Gadebe the air conditioning system could not be repaired and a new system needs to be installed. “This will be completed by mid-February,” Gadebe told Express.
Other grievances by the employees included water damage to carpets and shelves from a leaking roof, cracked walls and slow network services. Gadebe stated that these issues would be addressed by the end of February. Fax machines have not worked for years and photocopy machines are also broken.
Despite signs outside the library that state the photocopy machines are broken, Gadebe said it is working through Telkom lines. “The broken fax machines are not much of a challenge, as most people use email to communicate instead.”
Employees were also unhappy about the state of the bathrooms, where no handwash liquid and hand towels are available.
“In the disability bathroom a basin has been smashed to pieces,” the source added, with photos as proof. On a visit to the library, Express found this specific bathroom locked.
According to Gadebe, the library experiences a high rate of theft and vandalism, thus these items cannot be provided at the moment.
“We can’t go on like this,” the source concluded about the lack of maintenance at the library.
“One day someone is going to get hurt.”
