North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketsi Tlhape has reacted with sadness to the death of two Naledi Local Municipality employees and Hududi residents Batlhaleheng and Monnapula Mohumapelo, who allegedly died of suffocation whilst unblocking the drains opposite the sewerage plant on the Schweizer – Reneke road. Batlhaleheng (60) has long been working in the Naledi Local Municipality with an extensive experience in the sewerage section, whilst his son Monnapula (24) was a contract worker since January 2013.
MEC Tlhape has conveyed her message of condolences to the bereaved family and will be engaging with the Executive Mayor of Naledi Local Municipality, Langa Modise to establish a way forward in terms of the intervention required specifically on the alleged non provision of working tools and safety gears for officials working in hazardous conditions and future safety precautions to be applied.
“The pain of losing a family member is just unbearable, let alone losing two family members at a go. We cannot afford to lose employees due to freak accidents caused by either negligence or non-compliance to safety measures and standards. Compliance to such standards is not a matter of choice but a matter of total adherence and compliance. This is something that must never ever happen and a permanent solution to this must be dealt with once and for all’, she said.
Meanwhile, the Municipality has vowed to assist the bereaved family with the funeral costs, also an internal investigation has been launched on this tragic incident and the department will be overseeing that this process is fast tracked and treated with the outmost sensitivity it deserves.
