Contractors working for the City of Johannesburg have signed a new safety protocol, promising to ensure adequate safety and security measures are in place wherever they work in the city.

Signing Johannesburg's safety protocol: Graham Reid of the Johannesburg Development Agency; Bethuel Jwili of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company; Luther Williams of Johannesburg City Park; the City's chief operations officer Sibongile Mazibuko; Charles Brookes of SAA Consulting Engineering (chairman of Gauteng branch); Gerald Dumas of Johannesburg Water; and Charl Möller on behalf of the City's Department of Development Planning, Transportation and Environment.

Executive Mayor Councillor Amos Masondo initiated the safety protocol in memory of Karabo Gwala, the little boy who drowned after falling into an open drain at a construction site in Dube, Soweto, in February 2004.

"The City of Johannesburg wishes to focus increased attention on adherence to safety standards and precautions during the carrying out of construction and/or service activities within its jurisdiction," said Sibongile Mazibuko, the City's chief operations officer.

The contractor or developer working on a site will be held responsible by the City for any accidents or injuries on that site.

Several stakeholders signed the safety protocol in Braamfontein on 25 April 2005.

These stakeholders include the City's utilities, agencies and corporates, such as Johannesburg Water and City Power; various Gauteng provincial departments, such as public works, housing, and water affairs and forestry; and companies such as Telkom, Eskom, Sasol, Rand Water, Egoli Gas, Transtel and construction and property developers.

"This document binds contractors working on site within the City to adhere to safety legislation, and particularly the Occupational Health And Safety Act and construction regulations," Mazibuko said.

"We had a briefing last year with various stakeholders about the safety protocol. On 3 February 2005 Mayor Amos Masondo signed the safety protocol and today the other stakeholders are attaching their signatures next to that of the mayor."

Mazibuko said the City hoped to have all the necessary parties sign the protocol by the end of May 2005.

Johannesburg News Agency