Staff at the Sammy Marks Square Tshwane metro call centre say nothing has changed since an insect infestation caused a mass walkout several weeks ago.
“We have complained and yet we are still stuck at those offices,” an employee, who wants to remain anonymous, told Rekord.
“Actually, it is now worse because the insects are now also in the lobby, where all the staff is located. And we’re still getting bitten.
I don’t know how management can let us work under such conditions.”
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Tshwane metro ‘coping’ as workers continue boycott over ‘insect infestation’
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told Rekord last week that the metro was looking for alternative office space for the call centre.
He said the metro was “coping and managing with incoming calls” despite employees boycotting work.
Staff abandoned the centre for about three weeks due to an alleged “out-of-control” insect infestation in the building.
“So far we have not experienced an uncontrollable backlog and the situation is under control,” Mashigo said.
Call centre staff complained of insects biting them at their workstations and centre management had supplied cans of insecticide when they complained.
“The cans didn’t help,” another employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, said.
This led to the metro unsuccessfully fumigating the offices.
According to the staffer, the trouble started when they complained to superiors about an unpleasant carpet odour.
“Since last year the roof has been leaking,” the employee told Rekord. “This caused the carpets to stink.”
SA Municipal Workers Union shop steward Charles Siwela said “we will not go back to work in an infested office”.
“The Tshwane metro must rectify the situation.”
He said it was unacceptable that women employees at the building were bitten in “sensitive areas” by insects while at work.
“When women come to tell me they cannot deal with irritation in those areas, it is embarrassing.”
ALSO READ: ‘Unkown insects’ terrorise Tshwane staff in CBD office
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
