Eight peopled have now died at Middelburg Ferrometals, four of them Numsa members, after an explosion rocked the workplace last month. Of the 13 people injured, 12 were hospitalised, three were subsequently released from hospital, one still remains in Milpark hospital.
The four Numsa members were: JJ Mtsweni, NP Khumalo, D Dladla and T Mthimunye. Khumalo and Mtsweni had each given more than 15 years service to the company.
While Khumalo’s family still lived in Nongoma, the family of the remaining three resided in Middelburg.
Numsa full-time shop steward, Simon Mkhonto, is worried how workers will ever manage to go back and work on the furnace where the explosion took place.
Although workers did receive counselling, he says that it just “doesn’t go far enough”.
So far investigations show that there was a blockage of raw material in the feedpipe to the furnace. When they tried to unblock it, a big piece of raw material shot into the molten material followed by water which made the molten material explode. The force of the explosion forced out the roof of the furnace and the “whole company went pitch black” says Mkhonto.
Meanwhile, lawyer and health and safety expert, Richard Spoor, has agreed to represent Numsa at the formal investigation to be held on September 22 and 23.
Numsa extends its condolences to all family and friends of the deceased. Hambani kahle maqabane!