STAFF at the National Department of Health's Tshwane head office – the Dr AB Xuma Building leased for almost R500 million over seven years – is refusing to drink its water supply, alleging that it is contaminated.
They have raised concerns over the water posing serious health risks, which violates the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and jeopardising employee well-being.
The department’s bosses were notified about the urgent need for action to ensure their safety in the building, which houses the offices of minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, his deputy Dr Joe Phaahla, and director-general Dr Sandile Buthelezi.
According to trade union Public Servants Association (PSA), it has formally engaged with the department to highlight its non-compliance with national environmental health norms and standards requiring the provision of safe drinking water and appropriate signage to non-potable sources.
The PSA has demanded the department’s immediate intervention to provide solutions including bottled water for all employees until the matter is resolved.
”The PSA emphasises the necessity for regular maintenance and water quality testing to prevent future incidents,” the union’s general manager Reuben Maleka said.
The union is threatening to approach the Department of Employment and Labour’s inspectorate for intervention with the possibility of closing down the building should it be discovered the water is of poor quality.
Maleka added that the PSA remained committed to holding the department accountable for any delays or inadequate measures and has also threatened to escalate the matter to the Department of Employment and Labour to enforce OHS compliance and enforce relevant provisions if necessary as well as assess the water.
Correspondence from the union shows that Buthelezi was notified of the critical issue concerning the health and safety of employees on July 5 when the union warned about workers being exposed to work unfit for human consumption warranting urgent intervention.
”The Department of Health is expected to maintain and strive to ensure that there is uncontaminated water for citizens of South Africa and thus especially its employees,” Maleka told Buthelezi.
He explained that employees were anxious and frustrated by the situation and warned that it was not practical for them to continue providing effective and efficient services under such conditions.
”The department will be held accountable should any employee fall ill from drinking contaminated water,” stated Maleka.
In his response, Buthelezi said the landlord conducts water quality tests on an annual basis to identify potential contaminants, with the next tests scheduled for next month.
He promised that due to the concerns raised by the PSA the test would be conducted earlier this month after which a water quality certificate would be issued.
Buthelezi also reassured the union that the department regarded the issue of water contamination as highly important and that OHS matters remain a priority.
Mooikloof Ridge, Tshwane-based Madi Solutions submitted samples to laboratory group Assurecloud to test an analyse using internationally standardised methods to test for possibility and presence of Legionella bacteria, which can cause pneumonia.
Assurecloud, a Midrand, Johannesburg-based accredited provider of testing, inspection, certification and auditing services, was also tasked with conducting a potability (drinking) test to measure the microbiological quality of the sample as compared to limits for human consumption in which three types of micro-organisms are tested for – the total bacterial count, number of coliforms, which increase the risk of contracting water-borne diseases, and number of Escherichia coli, which can cause diarrhoea and food poisoning.
The Legionella test results are still pending, while the potability test found the water in the building safe for human consumption with regard to the micro-organisms present, according to a preliminary report dated July 12.
However, the PSA said its members confirmed that water remains contaminated despite the report stating that the water is safe.
”The water remains yellow in colour and members are really scared to drink the water. It is apparent that the landlord is the one who provided the report not the department.
“It is the responsibility of the department to provide safe water to its employees not the landlord. It is clear that the department has abdicated its responsibilities to ensure a safe and healthy workplace,” Maleka said.
He continued: ”It is concerning that the health department is so unhealthy and dangerous.”
In addition to the water, there are also concerns about the air-conditioning system, which staff complain was last inspected more than a decade ago.
”I have also found that air-conditioning is [a] huge risk. Some (air-) conditioners were last inspected during 2012 while the office is near a quarry mine,” Maleka said, adding that this was visibly why the air-conditioners are clogged with dust.
He said this was the danger employees were facing in the building as dust is found on the filters both inside and outside, showing that they have long passed their lifespan.
The building is leased from Chislehurston, Sandton-based Hiroworx, which was awarded the R487m tender to house the department in the property previously known as the Old Exxaro Building.
The national health department moved out of the Civitas Building in downtown Pretoria in 2021 following OHS compliance concerns, maintenance challenges and employment and labour department identified safety gaps.