News24 reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has taken its fight with two national departments over the occupation of the Civitas Building in Pretoria to the Labour Court in Johannesburg.  

"The PSA took national health and public works to the Labour Court arguing that workers cannot continue to work in an unsafe working environment and the building must be shut down," the union’s Ivan Fredericks said in a statement of Friday.  The PSA believes that the Civitas Building, which is occupied by employees of the national health department, is in contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and, as a result, made an application seeking an order that would direct the two departments to "move employees to an environment that is safe and without risk to the health of its employees".  The presiding judge questioned whether the labour court had jurisdiction over the case and postponed the matter until 11 October when the parties will address the question.  The safety of buildings in Gauteng has been a matter of general concern following the tragic deaths of three firefighters earlier this month following a fire at the Bank of Lisbon Building in Johannesburg.

• Read this report by Canny Maphanga in full at News24
• Read the PSA’s press statement in this regard at SA Labour News

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page