By OBAKENG MAJE
11 October 2025- The North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari has confirmed that a section of the roof at the Health Office Park, which serves as the Department’s Provincial Head Office, has collapsed. Lehari said the department’s affected area accommodates the Financial Management, Salaries and Accounting Directorates.
He further said following the incident, immediate steps have been taken to safeguard employees and secure the building. Lehari added that the Department of Labour has been officially notified and will conduct an on-site inspection on Monday to assess compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards and determine the structural integrity of the building.
“Access to the building will remain restricted in the interim as a precautionary measure until safety has been verified and guaranteed. The Infrastructure Development and Technical Services (IDTS) unit, in collaboration with the OHS Committee, had previously presented an engineer’s report indicating that the building was safe for occupation.
“However, a subsequent assessment conducted last Thursday identified the ceiling as a potential risk and recommended that employees in the affected area be moved while a service provider was being sourced to address the matter urgently,” he said.
Lehari has assured employees and the public that the department is prioritising their safety above all else. He said safety and wellbeing of their employees remain their top priority.
“We are treating this incident with the urgency it deserves and will ensure that no staff member is placed at risk. We are working closely with relevant authorities to resolve this matter speedily and safely,” said Lehari.
Meanwhile, Superintendent General, Obakeng Mongale, reiterated the department’s commitment to transparency and swift action. Mongale said they have activated all necessary internal and external processes to assess the full extent of the damage and to implement corrective measures.
“We assure staff that interim working arrangements are being made to minimise disruption to critical services while ensuring everyone’s safety.
“The department will continue to communicate updates as more information becomes available following the Department of Labour’s assessment and the engineers’ further inspections,” said Mongale.
The Guardian 