The Department of Labour wishes to inform all stakeholders that the blitz inspection and the Public Participation Programme (PPP) or Imbizo that were to be held on the 5th and 6th respectively in the Bronkhorstspruit area have been cancelled.
The Honourable Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant will lead a team of inspectors from the Department of Labour’s (DoL) Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) division to launch an inspection blitz on the farms of Bronkhorstpruit district, Gauteng this Friday.
The blitz will be followed by the public participation programme (PPP) or Imbizo on Saturday, 5 May starting at 9h00 at the Bronkhorstpruit’s Sports Complex.
The blitz on Friday is to ensure the enforcement of labour laws. The minister will mount spot checks on more than 40 farms in the area of Bronkhorstpruit district situated about east of Pretoria about 65 kilometres from the Centre of Pretoria. The farming town lies on the border between Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces.
It will focus on the farming sector and will be followed by a media briefing to be addressed by Oliphant.
During her visit in Gauteng Oliphant will meet with the Provincial management team of the DoL and various stakeholders. On Saturday, the community will, at the PPP (Imbizo) get an opportunity to interact with the Minister.
The district covers an area of 2206 square kilometers, 80% of which is agricultural land. It has a population of more than 123 000. The residential areas of Ekangala, Silver Lakes, Bronkhorstpruit, Bronkhorstbaai, Vaalbank, Zithobeni Heights, Sizanani, Rethabiseng and Sehlakwana fall within the Bronkhorstpruit district.
The area’s agriculture sector comprises mostly of farming in maize and cattle. Other commodities include ground-nuts, cotton, sunflower and sorghum. Although the regions economy is relatively diversified, agriculture is the biggest land user in Bronkhortspruit (80%), but contributes only 3,7% to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the region and provides only 9,4% of the employment opportunities.
Other economic activity in the region is focused on mining, manufacturing, electricity, construction, trade and transport.
The purpose of the inspection blitz is part of the Minister’s national programme of action to check whether employers are meeting the required standards of labour laws. The inspections focus on ensuring compliance with Employment Equity, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, Occupational Health and Safety, Unemployment Insurance and adherence to sectoral determination in respect of agriculture.
The Minister has to date conducted and led a series of national inspection blitz/PPP (Imbizo’s) in and around the areas of Dumbe, KwaZulu-Natal; Mahwelereng, Limpopo; Pampierstad, Northern Cape; Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape; Bethlehem, Free State; Nkomazi Municipality, Mpumalanga; Sanieshof, North West; and Paarl, in the Western Cape.
The media is invited. For logistical arrangements journalists can contact: Sekhothali Lerotholi
Tel: 011 853 0505
Cell: 083 678 7558
E-mail: Sekhothali.lerotholi.gov.za
Mishack Magakwe
Cell: 072 703 9785
Enquiries:
Musa Zondi
Tel: 012 392 9625
Cell: 082 901 8081
E-mail: Musa.zondi@labour .gov.za
