​​​With the world grappling with the adverse effects of the Coronavirus and associated cognitive stress, City employees have not been immune to the pandemic’s wrath.

However, Ntombikayise Sithole and her team are waging an unremitting war against the coronavirus in the workplace, helping inspire staff members to avoid contracting the pandemic, which has already claimed 67 lives in the City.

As the Director of Safety, Health and Environment, Ntombikayise prides herself on looking after the wellbeing of City employees to help avoid the dangers of fatigue and anxiety associated with the lockdown. She categorises these as fundamental issues that slow down productivity in the organisation.

“The promotion of health and safety in the workplace is not just my work, it’s what I’m passionate about. This responsibility translates into compliance to occupational health and safety protocols and contributes to self-development,” she says, grinning delightedly at the towering responsibility.

She says the health and safety of all City employees is paramount and encourages everyone to take care of their mental health, which may be compromised by the daily news of their colleagues succumbing to the vicious pandemic.

The married mother of a newly graduated Electronics Engineering son takes no prisoners when executing her job, uncompromisingly pursuing healthy minds and hearts. Of late, Ntombikayise has been spearheading the collation and compilation of Citywide Covid-19 data, which consolidates all active and recovered cases in the organisation.

She’s in charge of the Citywide Covid-19 strategy, which helps monitor the implementation of corrective measures to avert disastrous health outcomes in the workplace. Part of her job is to ensure the City complies with occupational health and safety measures at all CoJ screening and testing sites for employees in the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus.

“The CoJ as an employer needs to determine the risk of exposure to Covid-19 for each work area or work task and identify suitable control measures according to the assessed risk,” she says.

When she’s not thwarting the coronavirus in the workplace, Ntombikayise lands a helping hand to her local church, which runs a soup kitchen to feed and look after less privileged people. She’s also involved in processing Covid-19 claims for occupational hazards through the Department of Employment and Labour.

“It is my job to ensure City employees have a safe and healthy working environment. I also have to make sure medical expenses incurred by employees due to injury on duty or after contracting the virus at work are paid for by the City, subject to the approval of the Compensation Commissioner,” she explains.

Ntombikayise is also pursuing a Masters in Global Business Management. “I always say to myself and the SHE team, comply now and complain later, so that you can make an impact in whatever you do.”

Written by Gontse ‘GeE’ Hlophe
18/06/2021