KZN Social Development MEC pleas for the safety of employees
Khoza's plea comes after two incidents in which social workers were hijacked while carrying out their duties
KZN MEC for Social Development, Nonhlanhla Khoza has urged community members to protect government employees.
Khoza’s plea comes after two incidents in which social workers were hijacked while carrying out their duties.
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She said the hijacking of state vehicles cripples service delivery.
She explained that the first incident occurred at Inanda near Durban, where a social worker assigned to assist the Sigampu family was hijacked at gunpoint.
‘A social worker, who was assigned to assist this family whose child was shot and killed at Nkanini reserve, along with five members of the Khumalo family outside eShowe, was held up at gunpoint and robbed of a state vehicle on his arrival at the local service office premises,’ she said.
‘We had two vehicles involved in hijacking incidents in as many days. Another hijacking occurred last Friday, in which two social workers from the Harry Gwala district office were hijacked along the R56 near Richmond in the Midlands. They were en route to Pietermaritzburg.’
Khoza said it was very disturbing that government employees, who are assigned to provide such vital services to communities, have to constantly look over their shoulders.
‘Communities should play a significant role in protecting government employees whose responsibilities are to ensure service delivery to the needy.
‘These workers put their lives at risk to ensure our communities’ needs are met, as per the directive of government. The hijacking of state vehicles negatively impacts all government campaigns of changing lives for the better,’ she said.
She further urged communities to protect themselves against the Covid-19 pandemic.
KZN police spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed that two cases of hijacking are under investigation, and that no arrest nor recovery of the vehicles have yet been made.
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