The community of Upington is facing a crisis as the Department of Labor, previously housed at the Sandile Present Library, has allegedly been evicted. This sudden move has left residents frustrated and without access to essential services. Acting District Manager of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Jane Gudula, revealed that her department has been requesting documentation from the labor department to continue service delivery from the library, but to no avail:

Insert - Jane Gudula

Local business owner Lindy Makhwa expressed her disappointment, stating that she's been traveling back and forth seeking assistance, only to be met with disappointment. She says her workers are losing faith in her, due to the lack of progress in the UIF process. Makhwa states that she is frustrated and irritated that she haven't received any effective services from the labor department, she elaborates:

Insert - Lindy Makhwa

Residents are unhappy about the poor communication and lack of services. Rene Longman, a mother from Kanon Eiland, shared her dissatisfaction, saying she's been visiting the labor offices repeatedly with no assistance:

Insert - Rene Longmond

Flip Vander Steen, DA Councilor of Ward 8, visited the centre this morning where he handed out a petition to be signed.

Insert - Flip Vander Steen

Many people have shared frustration having traveled from surrounding areas outside Upington, to be left standing in line for hours without assistance. A reliable source confirmed that services of the department of labor are currently unavailable in Upington due to the unavailability of an operating office. The source revealed that the online service is also offline, and manual assistance is impossible without a facility. The source added that there's no timeline for completing the labor office renovations. No labor services will be rendered until further notice.

 

Journalist: Murial Meintjies
Email: intern2@radioriverside.co.za