No fix, no work as deeds pile up

JOBURG: OVER 5,000 FILES WAIT AS WORKERS DOWN TOOLS OVER 'UNSAFE' OFFICE BUILDING

- Thando Nondywana

The Deeds Office in Johannesburg has ground to a halt with more than 5,000 property transfer files unattended as staff protest over unsafe working conditions in the Marble Towers building in the CBD.

For the past eight days, no work has been done in a standoff over their office building's conditions.

Katherine Gascoigne, an executive of the Joburg Attorneys Association, expressed concern over the lack of clarity and government intervention to resolve the unfolding crisis.

"We have received no official statements and the lack of transparency is making the situation even more difficult to manage."

"With no contingency plan in place, the risk of another sudden shutdown remains high," she said.

"If a lift breaks down tomorrow, we could be right back at square one. The lack of planning is frustrating, leaving businesses and clients in the dark."

The crisis highlights a major failure in planning and accountability, with far-reaching financial consequences, Gascoigne said.

"The Deeds Office provides a critical service and these disruptions are affecting thousands of people, businesses and the economy."