BusinessLive reports that the statutory body tasked with keeping public servants accountable says the Department of Public Works (DPW) has housed it in an "unfit building" in central Pretoria and the accompanying health hazards now leave it vulnerable to lawsuits from employees.  

This was revealed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) during a briefing to Parliament on the commission’s performance.  PSC chairman Ben Mthembu told the portfolio committee on public service, administration, monitoring and evaluation that the building in question had “unsafe air.”  He stated:  “The building the department gave us in the CBD of Pretoria is old and not up to standard.  Officials have fallen sick and upon being checked, doctors have said the sickness is attributable to the air in the building".  PSC staff have apparently begun asking for permission to work from home because of the conditions at the building.  DA committee member Sejamotopo Motau urged the PSC to seek assistance from the Department of Health to ensure staff were not working in a place that posed an occupational hazard.

• Read this report by Khulekani Magubane in full at BusinessLive

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