Dept set to extend lease for problem-plagued ‘Glass Palace’

THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison will apparently extend the lease for the building it is occupying on the corner of Sydney and Lennox streets in Kimberley for another five years.

This is despite a notice of non-compliance that was issued by the Department of Employment and Labour for the building last year.

It is believed that the rental exceeds R1 million per month.

The former minister of finance Pravin Gordhan, who died in September, advised the former MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism, John Block, in 2014 to cancel the lease because of “irregularities” in the contract and the alleged flouting of supply chain management processes.

The Hawks in 2014 undertook to investigate the 10-year lease agreement that was concluded in January 2011.

Hawks provincial spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe said yesterday that the investigations were abandoned as the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had decided not to pursue the matter.

In terms of the contravention notice, where acknowledgement of receipt was signed by the head of department on March 14, 2023, improvements were to be made to the ventilation as well as adherence to fire precautions.

Staff members have, however, indicated that to date no steps have been taken to comply with the contravention notice.

“The air conditioners are still not working. It is supposed to be a new-generation building, so there are no windows. The temperatures can rise to over 40 degrees Celsius on the top floors,” staff members said.

“The walls are cracked and the roof leaks whenever it rains. We cannot work under these conditions. The MEC and HOD were supposed to be held responsible for failing to safeguard the occupational health and safety of their employees, yet no steps were taken against them. We would prefer to work from home.”

Concerns were also raised that staff would struggle to vacate the premises in the event of a fire or emergency. “The building poses a major fire hazard because only one lift is working and there are no windows,” they said.

They added that there was a shortage of parking as the parking lot at the Woolworths building was no longer available.

“We were supposed to move to another building in the CBD but it fell through after another tenant moved in.”

Employees in December 2023 complained that they were suffering from asthma and other respiratory illnesses due to the lack of ventilation in the building.

Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison spokesperson Rennie Andrias said they were committed to finding a sustainable solution.

“The Ocean Echo Building issue is part of our legacy challenges that we have faced since 2014. As a responsible employer, we continue to work with the landlord and organised labour to create a conducive working environment for our employees,” Andrias added.

The Department of Employment and Labour confirmed receipt of media enquiries but had not responded by the time of publication.