Durban - Traffic officers frustrated at being without running water for nearly three years staged a service delivery protest of their own on Thursday, preventing security cameras from being installed at a North Coast licensing and testing station.
The officers, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said 30 staff at the Groutville Licensing and Testing Station had to work in difficult and unhygienic conditions despite neighbouring facilities, such as a nearby petrol station, having ready access to water.
They said they had been supplied with three 2 000 litre tanks, but these were not filled regularly by the Ilembe District, and water, when available, was unfit for consumption.
“Only in December did the department (of transport) supply us with 500ml of bottled water, one bottle for each member per day, as if one can dictate to the body systems how much water it needs per day.
“This is absurd because we have been voicing our concern to our immediate supervisor,” said one officer.
“We work under strenuous conditions here because if one goes to the loo, then one has to carry a bucket of water from the tanks, and when they (tanks) run dry, we battle,” he said.
He said they were surprised when they saw people coming in to install security cameras, at a cost of R250 000, and questioned the department’s priorities.
The contract was awarded to Mzansi Fire and Security with the expectation that the job would be completed today.
Another officer said it was unacceptable to be installing cameras when pressing concerns about the welfare of the 11 women and 19 men had not been resolved.
“How can we be motivated if we have been exposed to this condition for almost three years? The ladies here share one toilet, and you can imagine how difficult it can be to utilise such an ablution facility, having to carry water with buckets to flush.
“It’s unhygienic, one of our basic human rights is infringed here, yet you have those in power prioritising cameras.”
The officer said a biometric security system had also been installed at the facility some years ago, but was not working.
A borehole could have solved the water supply problem for a fraction of the cost of the camera system, said the officers, who claimed to be operating one of the best performing stations in the province, despite the “appalling” working conditions.
The officers said they had warned in a recent meeting with their station commander that they would chase away the security camera contractors if the water supply problem was not addressed.
“She threatened us with arrest and disciplinary action. So it is clear that our well-being comes second, yet we are expected to excel in our work.
“In any case we excel, but that doesn’t mean we will let things fall apart.
“We have decided on preventing the contractor so that our voice can be heard,” said another officer.
Mzansi owner, Raffique Aboobaker, is a casualty of the row between the officers and the authorities.
He said if he missed Thursday’s deadline, he would lose about R150 000. “I’ve spent money to buy equipment, including the wiring. The men were forced to stop working as they were laying down the underground wiring. The Department of Labour will not pay me if the job is not done. They will come and inspect what has been done so far and pay for that portion, which is basically the digging,” said Aboobaker.
He said he would then have to bear the costs for the equipment and travelling from Durban.
Road and Transport Inspectorate regional commander, Thabani Mthembu, declined to comment.
Transport Department spokesman, Kwanele Ncalane, acknowledged the water crisis at the facility was a concern that had been raised before, but said preventing the improvement of security at the station was wrong.
“It’s suspicious because water supply in that facility is a known concern.
“Now we are improving our security measures because that facility has a weighbridge and impounded cars, so there has to be improvement in security measures to ensure the safety of people’s property,” said Ncalane.
He said the water issue had been raised with the district municipality (Ilembe) and the Public Works Department.
A Public Works employee, who identified herself only as Gugu, said she did not have the authority to speak to the media, but water and electricity were normally the responsibility of the municipality and the department using the building.
Daily News