The investigation surrounding the explosion which claimed the lives of eight factory workers at the premises of Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) in Macassar in 2018 got underway at the Community House in Salt River on Tuesday, October 19.
According to a statement by the Department of Employment and Labour, this is the second sitting since the fatal incident after the first sitting took place in May 2021 where 13 witnesses were cross-examined before the commission.
Also read: Denel explosion investigation launches
The statement indicated that the department continued with the investigation in terms of section 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993 and concluded the investigation in 2019, submitting a report to the Chief Inspector.
“The department then ordered the establishment of a section 32 inquiry to investigate violations of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) thus appointing Mphumzi Dyulete as the Presiding Inspector but the inquiry could not continue in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions,” the statement said.
The presiding officer Dyulete further mentioned that the inquiry is continuing this week and the commission will hear testimonies from all 17 witnesses that are lined up to give evidence to what transpired during that fatal day.
“Once the commission of inquiry has established what had happened it will compile a report and recommendations to the department’s Chief Inspector who in turn will hand over the report to the National Prosecutions Authority for consideration,” Dyulete said.
Flashback
A woman is currently praying outside #DenelExplosion . They say they have a family member inside and are not sure if it’s part of the four people who died in the explosion #CTExplosion pic.twitter.com/pezET6oUAi
— Veve (@LudidiVelani) September 3, 2018
Moments after the explosion. #Denel #RheinmetalDenel pic.twitter.com/6cbbNcS6ZN
— Hennie (@Hennie196502) September 3, 2018
The WHOLE of False bay area just felt a MASSIVE explosion. All the doors in my house was rattling or slammed close!
Apparently an ‘accident’ at #Denel near Strand.
That was slightly scary. ? pic.twitter.com/7HTgRoN2Aq
— TheOneK (@1karlien) September 3, 2018
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Picture: Twitter