Page 167 - Department of Social Development Annual Report 2021

Health and Safety Committee
Introduction
The Acting Director General (ADG) has reconstituted a
The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No.85
new Health and Safety Committee comprised of senior
of 1993), requires the employer to bring about and
managers, middle managers and junior staff. This was to
maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a work
ensure the appointment of members who will serve the
environment that is safe and without risk to the health of
interest of all employees as far as health and safety
the workers. The Act require both the employers and the
matters are concerned. The functioning of this Committee
workers to take responsibility for health and safety. This
was a key requirement in terms of COVID-19 protocols
is addressed through the principle that dangers in the
across all government departments. Various branches
workplace must be addressed by communication and
were
nominate
and
Health
to
invited
cooperation between the workers and the employer. Both
Representatives for the Health and Safety Committee.
parties must pro-actively identify dangers and develop
The Health and Safety Representatives were formally
control measures to make the workplace safe. In this way,
appointed in January 2021. The Committee meets to
the employer and the workers are involved in a system
initiate, promote, maintain and review measures of
where health and safety representatives may inspect the
ensuring the Occupational Health and Safety in the
workplace regularly and then report to a health and
Department.
who
turn
committee,
in
may
safety
submit
recommendations to the employer. The Department has a
revised Occupational Health and Safety Policy which was
approved by MANCO in January 2021.
PART C: GOVERNANCE Safety
7: PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
Training of Health and Safety Representatives Effect it has on the Department For the year under review, the Department appeared before the Portfolio Committee as follows:
The Health and Safety Representatives serving on the Sanitisation of the workplace: The offices will continue to
Occupational Health and Safety Committee must have a be sanitised monthly or as and when required. All DATE OF PURPOSE OF RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
thorough knowledge and understanding of the legislative common areas, boardrooms, lifts and areas with high THE MEETING THE MEETING
requirements (Occupational Health and Safety Act). They traffic volume will be sanitised on a more regular basis. 22 April DSD Covid-19 • The Department reported to the committee that it had met 10% of the national
must also be aware of their duties and responsibilities as All protocols on the management of Covid-19 in the 2020 response and target of one million food parcels distributed to households.
well as to be familiar with all administrative workplace remain in force. challenges • The Department briefed the Committee that it added R20 million to the R23 500
requirements involved for safety at the workplace. The 21 (including food million received from the Solidarity Fund to provide food parcels to households.
newly appointed Health and Safety Representatives of General Hygiene: The cleaning services will continue to security • 253 Community Nutrition and Development Centres (CNDC) were mobilised as the
the Health and Safety Committee were trained on their ensure that the workplace is kept clean at all times. All mode of feeding members of the public changed.
responsibilities following their appointment in January officials in the Department must always promote and programmes, GBV • The Department created a mobile app that allows GBV victims to signal for help
2021. maintain good hygiene practices. programmes and without having to call the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre directly.
services for • The Committee welcomed the R350 Social Relief Distress Grant and were of the view
Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment Provision of personal protective equipment: The homeless people) that this intervention must be continued following the six-month period.
Department will continue to apply the “no mask – no • The Committee recommended that food vouchers are a better option to minimise the
The following Personal Protective Equipment was entry” policy in line with all protocols and directives cost for transport and security, and should be a clear means and criteria for food
procured as part of internal interventions in response to issued to mitigate Covid-19 infections. No staff member parcels.
Covid-19 pandemic: or visitor may refuse to wear personal protective • The Committee suggested that DSD should partner with SABC to display a banner at
• Procurement of Covid-19 freestanding perspex equipment as such has been declared compulsory by the the bottom of television screens with grant information and the use of loud hailers
desk screens for protection of officials that Department of Health. and community radio stations be utilised for people in rural areas.
need social distancing. These are used by staff Social Distancing: The maintenance of the 1.5-meter • A new Risk Adjusted Approach to Covid-19 lockdown has been introduced in the
who have direct contact with other officials social distancing will continue to be observed on all move to ease the lockdown.
and the public. The Covid-19 desk screens floors, reception, lifts and offices. • The committee recommended that the Ministers should know the geographic
prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus and distribution of finances so that they can pick up if there is any suspicious activity in
protect officials from direct contact with Officials are regularly reminder of all the Departmental their constituencies.
others. protocols that were developed in the past as well as • DSD clarified that the “express tender”, as dubbed by the media, to Kirinox was
• The procurement of a total of 300 one-litre Circulars 11, 15 and 18 of 2020 that were issued by the granted as the Department urgently needed food services and personal protective
hand plastic sanitiser spray bottles for each Department of Public Service and Administration. equipment given to homeless shelters.
office in the Department (Human Sciences • The Committee was concerned about; the dysfunctionality of the KZN Covid-19
Research Council (HSRC), Harlequins Office toll-free number, that provision of food parcels was inadequate and lacked
Park and the Gender-Based Violence Command uniformity across the country, homeless people struggle with drug addiction.
Centre (GBVCC) buildings). • The Department was tasked with dealing with Regulation 6 and 7 of the Disaster
• The procurement of light commercial disinfec- Management Act. Regulation 6 refers to the shutting down of facilities such as Early
tant fogger machine and disinfectant for the Childhood Development (ECD) Centres and walk-in centres and so forth as well as
decontamination the 45 GG vehicles on a dealing with issues escalated from provinces to the Situation Room for intervention.
regular basis. At a minimum, it was required to • The Department to provide status on the recommendations that the Social Income
clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces Grant agreed for Covid-19 social relief will be needed for longer than six months as
in the vehicle at the beginning and end of each the effects of the virus and lockdown will be felt for subsequent months.
utilisation of the vehicle and between trans- • DSD to clarify the criteria and further guidelines for the SRD grant with the public.
porting passengers. It was also required to
ensure high-touch surfaces such as the steer- 08 May DSD and • The Department, SASSA and the NDA, briefed the Committee on their Annual
ing wheel, seat belts, driving controls, gear 2020 SASSA Performance Plans (APPs).
lever, windows, keys, seats and door handles 2020/21 • The Community Development budget had decreased from R97.795 million in the
are cleaned and disinfected. Annual 2015/16 financial year, to R30.031 million in the 2020/21 financial year.
• The procurement of 30 000 disposable masks Performance • It was highlighted that the social work scholarship had been reduced to allow the
for all staff and visitors in the HSRC, Harlequins Plans Department to absorb social work graduates. A total of 4 597 social workers were
and GBVCC offices. employed throughout the Department and moving forward, there was a need for about
• The procurement of the decontamination and 71 000 social workers.
sanitisation services for the HSRC, Harlequins • The Committee commended the Department for its improvement in the Department’s
and GBVC buildings on monthly basis as a vision and mission statement.
Covid-19 prevention measures. The offices will • The committee asserted that gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse had been
continue to be sanitised monthly or as and under-emphasised in the Annual Performance Plan (APP).
when required. • Substance abuse campaigns needed to go beyond pamphlet campaigns, and the DSD
• The procurement of 11 000 (initial 5 000 and should rather be working hand-in-hand with communities.
additional 6 000 litres) of 70% alcohol-based
hand sanitiser.
• The procurement of automated hand sanitiser
dispensers.
• The procurement and distribution of First Aid
Kits.
167 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

• The Committees would continuously be updated with the progress tech process,
which was largely around organisational restructuring and change management while
prioritising entity oversight.
• The Department would be strong on issues relating to controls, such as risk controls
monitoring and evaluation, and creating a framework that manages implementation
and consequence management.
• The Department must consider hiring marshals to help the elderly and disabled, as
well as to ensure people adhered to social distancing.
• DSD to prioritise increasing people’s capacity to be self-supporting, access to
developmental programmes and all structures should be informed on the systems.
• The Committee requested the Department to provide feedback in writing regarding
the alleged SASSA officials in KZN that had kept SASSA cards for their own use.