Employment and Labour Minister T.W Nxesi passes heartfelt condolences and calls for urgent investigation into the cause of death of the seven farm workers who died in Kakamas in the Northern Cape
Minister of Employment and Labour, T.W Nxesi has expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, and called for an urgent investigation into the cause of death of seven farm workers in Kakamas, Northern Cape.
The Minister was responding after he received the sad news this afternoon on the passing away of the workers in what is alleged to be linked with the sweeping heat wave that is experienced by the entire country and the region of Kakamas in particular.
The latest death in the Northern Cape comes on the heels of Minister Nxesi’s visit to Paarl in the Western Cape last week where two workers also died in what was alleged to be linked to a gas inhalation in their workplace.
Nxesi said: “In passing condolences to the affected families and calling for urgent investigations, as the Department of Employment and Labour - we will do our best to support and provide necessary services to the affected families.”
According to the Department’s inspectors every employer is expected to conduct a risk assessment of the workplace, and when any of the identified risks changes and employer need to introduce mitigating measures, especially in this instance where risk of temperatures rising to regions of 51 degrees Celsius.
The inspectors are currently busy conducting inspections and have recommend that farm workers work from 04h00 to 11h00 and resume work at 17h00 to 19h00. In Kakamas the sun set at 20h00 during this season.
While the inspections currently being conducted a section 31 investigation as per Occupational Health and Safety Act, will also ensue to establish further facts on the matter relating to the death of workers.
Media enquiries:
Teboho Thejane
Cell: 082 697 0694
E-mail: teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za
Sabelo Mali
Cell: 082 729 5804
E-mail: sabelo.mali@labour.gov.za
