THETO MAHLAKOANA: Denel deaths highlight lax enforcement
SA has been too relaxed about the enforcement of occupational health and safety standards for too long, with more people getting killed while on duty as a result. No matter the amount of noise following incidents of workplace deaths and injuries, the trend will continue because no-one — not employers, workers or the department of labour, whose mandate it is to protect workers — pays enough attention to the issue. For a country that has on paper reformed its toxic and dangerous workplace practices post democracy, the lack of vigilance is ludicrous. The explosion at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition factory in Somerset West that left eight people dead this week was tragic, but it will not be the last such devastating occurrence. Trade unions, parliament and other interested parties have called for an investigation, as though the country does not have a government entity that is mandated to expose workplace dangers before they claim lives. Under the leadership of minister Mildred Oliphant...
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