Spokesperson, Hillary Mophethe, says the department had to close some of its offices due to special leave by staff members with comorbidities.

These include the offices in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District, the Harrismith Testing Station, Kestell Testing Station, Motheo District, Wepener Testing Station, Fezile Dabi District, and Villiers Testing Station, among others.

Responding to OFM News' set of questions, Mophethe further confirms the department has also temporarily closed down the Viljoenskroon Testing Station, due to water challenges experienced by the local municipality, and a Covid-19 positive case identified at the office.

She says this office will be reopening on 1 February 2020.

Mophethe highlights that the implementation of Covid-19 lockdown regulations and prescribed protocols "has serious implications on the ability of the department to deliver effective services to the citizens at our testing stations across the province".

OFM News on Monday reported how the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province has called on MEC Sam Mashinini to intervene at testing centres across the province, stating that many of them suffer from shortages of staff, inadequate equipment and logistical supplies.

The party’s provincial leader, Roy Jankielsohn, said they have received several complaints about residents battling to access services at most licensing and testing centres and has called for their operational time to be extended, among other possible solutions.

Mophethe highlights that despite the closure of some centres, the department is hard at work to ensure the provision of services to residents.

OFM News