Disgruntled workers worried about their health and that of customers at the Pick 'n Pay at the Liberty Promenade in Mitchells Plain piemped their bosses to the Department of Labour for contravening lockdown rules.
The store was closed on Thursday after Provincial Chief Inspector David Esau found that the store had contravened the Occupational Health and Safety Act and was deemed unsafe.
Rumours spread on social media that the store was closed after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.
But the Department of Labour confirmed they visited the store with the police and escorted workers and customers out of the store and issued management with a prohibition notice.
The notice stopped trading.
By Friday afternoon, this was achieved.
Esau says they had observed that the store had not followed protocol and shut it down.
“Some of the contraventions included that the store did not have the proper risk assessment in place; there was a high influx of people in the store and the number of people in the store was not adequately managed; the store could not manage the sanitising of patrons on entry and social-distancing was not observed.
“A warning has also since been communicated with the management of the Liberty Promenade Mall for not putting effective measures in place to ensure social distancing.
“OHS inspectors will continue to visit workplaces to monitor compliance, act on tip-offs and implement the necessary actions where required.”
Janine Caradona for Pick n Pay Communications confirms: “The store was temporarily closed after the Department of Labour inspected the store and has since reopened.”
She also confirmed that none of the staff had symptoms or tested positive for Covid-19.
