IN a remarkable display of inter-governmental collaboration, the Department of Employment and Labour delivered a much-needed lifeline to thousands of residents in underserved communities across Gqeberha.
From April 7 to 15, more than R525 000 in Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) benefits was processed, directly benefiting about 4 600 clients. This mobile service delivery initiative brought essential government services to areas such as Walmer, West End, Joe Slovo, Motherwell, and Kuyga, ensuring that even the most vulnerable had access to critical social support and employment assistance.
“We bring these services to you because we know that you will not always have the resources to go to the nearest Labour Centre, which may be far from you,” Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, told residents seated patiently in queues at the Kuyga Community Hall on 15 April. “You have a right to access these services, and we will ensure that you all receive assistance before the end of the day, even if it is after 4pm. We will not leave until you have all been assisted.”
For many in these communities, this intervention was nothing short of transformative. Documents in hand, young and old alike lined up for hours under the sun, eager to claim the UIF benefits they so desperately needed. The gratitude expressed by community members was palpable, with one attendee remarking, “These are the kinds of things we need — real help that comes to us when we cannot come to it.”
The minister’s heartfelt interaction with the people of Kuyga highlighted the importance of bringing services directly to those who needed them the most. Her team worked tirelessly, staying late into the evening to ensure no one was turned away. This dedication underscored the government’s commitment to bridging gaps in service delivery and addressing systemic barriers faced by ordinary citizens.
However, juxtaposed against this success story was a sobering reality exposed during workplace inspections conducted simultaneously. A multidisciplinary inspection team, led by the Department of Employment and Labour and supported by the Department of Home Affairs and the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, conducted 564 workplace inspections.
Shockingly, only 139 employers (23.97%) complied with labour laws. The remaining 425 businesses were found to be non-compliant, violating various pieces of legislation, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act, Unemployment Insurance Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), and Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS).
On 15 April alone, six joint inspections in affluent suburbs such as Walmer, Humewood, and Summerstrand revealed universal non-compliance among local establishments. These included breaches under COIDA, OHS, BCEA, UIA, and even the Liquor Act due to failure to appoint managers.
Enforcement actions uncovered R386 000 in underpaid National Minimum Wages — a damning indictment of corporate negligence in economically robust regions such as the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
“It is disappointing that some companies continue to flout labour laws,” Meth lamented. “We conduct these inspections, not to catch you out, but to work with you to safeguard the rights of employees. We want to urge all businesses that are uncertain about their compliance status to reach out to the Department of Employment and Labour for assistance on how to be compliant with labour laws.”
While the mobile service delivery campaign succeeded in bringing relief to thousands of people, the scale of non-compliance exposed deep-rooted issues plaguing South Africa's labour landscape. Big businesses, particularly in economically privileged areas, appeared alarmingly indifferent to their legal obligations, casting a shadow over what should have been a moment of collective progress.
As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepared to engage with provincial stakeholders, the contrast between the triumphs of service delivery and the failures of corporate accountability painted a complex picture. While government officials worked tirelessly to assist vulnerable communities ahead of his visit, entrenched corporate malpractice threatened to undermine national development goals.
For now, though, the people of Gqeberha can breathe a little easier knowing that, despite systemic hurdles, some arms of government remain committed to walking alongside them — even if others seem determined to leave them behind.