A farm in Normandien has been temporarily closed after inspectors allegedly found it to be in violation of the Occupational Health & Safety Act.

The Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour conducted a blitz oversight inspection alongside the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), Cosatu, SAPS, Newcastle Metro Police and the Department of Home Affairs.

According to the department, the team identified several instances of non-compliance with regulations.

Workers were also allegedly found to be operating without personal protective equipment (PPE).

“The factory was found to be in violation of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, with workers not provided with PPE,” the department said.

They also alleged that workers had been injured during operations, which was not reported.

A prohibition notice was issued after inspectors discovered workers having meals in a dusty environment.

Inspectors also issued a contravention notice relating to the use of toilets at the workplace.

Department of Employment and Labour KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chief Inspector (PCI) Mlungisi Zondi addressed the workers and informed them of the prohibition notice, explaining what this entailed and meant for them.

The committee vowed that oversight visits would continue in other sectors for the remainder of the week.

Province achieves 90% performance rate

Meanwhile, Department of Employment and Labour KwaZulu-Natal Acting Chief Director: Provincial Operations Dr Nandipa Kahla earlier this week told members of the Portfolio Committee that the province achieved a 90% performance rate in the third quarter, ending December 2025. She claimed that the underachievement related mainly to outstanding misconduct cases and the finalisation of deceased claims.

Speaking during her oversight visit to the Newcastle Labour Centre on Tuesday (February 3), Kahla said the province had an 18% vacancy rate but remained on track to meet its targets despite challenges.

These challenges included system constraints, accommodation shortages, a lack of tools of trade, delays in filling target-bearing vacancies, a shortage of pool vehicles, an ageing fleet, and limited resources to monitor the Labour Activation Programme.

Deputy Director for Newcastle Labour Centre Operations Shaun Pillay said the department was in the process of establishing a fully-fledged office in eMadlangeni to ease pressure on the Newcastle Labour Centre.

“eMadlangeni forms part of the Amajuba District, along with Newcastle and Dannhauser,” he said.

Amajuba has a population of 687,408 and its economy is said to be dominated by trade, finance, manufacturing, construction, transport and agriculture.

The district has an unemployment rate of 39.8%, while youth unemployment stands at 51.2%.

Pillay said recent developments showed the area had the potential to become a logistics hub, creating job opportunities in warehousing, transport and renewable energy projects.

Portfolio Committee chairperson Boyce Makhosonke Maneli said the oversight visit was aimed at ensuring that legislation was implemented effectively.

“We are here to test the lived realities by engaging with stakeholders and communities,” he said. “We are here to test the capacity we have.”

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