Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Small Sehume and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Robert Ferendale.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ngwathe Local Municipality will write to the relevant provincial authorities regarding the ongoing limited operation of the Department of Employment and Labour’s Parys office and will continue applying oversight pressure to ensure the office operates five full working days per week with adequately deployed staff.
We are deeply concerned about the severely limited operating days and hours of the Department of Employment and Labour’s Parys office, which currently operates only two to three days per week because staff commute from Sasolburg.
This is wholly unacceptable. Residents of Parys and surrounding areas are being denied access to critical government services, including processing UIF claims, resolving labour disputes, enforcing workers’ rights, addressing occupational health and safety matters, providing compensation for workplace injuries, and offering employment assistance to job seekers.
A permanent office exists in Parys. There is no justification for it to stand largely unused while residents are forced to travel to Sasolburg at their own cost, simply to access services that should be available on their doorstep. This burden falls hardest on the unemployed, who can least afford transport costs.
The DA calls on the Department of Employment and Labour to immediately ensure the Parys office operates five full working days per week, during standard business hours, with adequately deployed staff.
We will not stand by while vulnerable residents, particularly job seekers, are priced out of accessing their rights.