The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is deeply concerned about the well-being of three workers’ who are missing following an explosion at one of ArcelorMittal’s plant in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng.
Three workers are missing following an explosion that took place at around 2am on Wednesday morning.
Management of the plant has issued a statement confirming the collapse and saying they are in the progress of attempting a search-and-rescue operation.
Numsa regional secretary Kabela Ramokhathali said emergency services is on the scene and is currently trying to find a way to extract them from the building safely, without setting off another explosion.
“Our officials are on hand to assist the family of those who are missing, and they are currently receiving counselling,” said Ramokhathali.
“The situation is fluid and we will update the media once we know more about the cause of the accident, and once we have managed to locate our members safely.”
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the union is concerned the management of the plant is not doing enough for the missing employees.
“Our problem is that [while] there is a search-and-rescue operation under way, it’s an operation where they are depending on ordinary workers to do the rescuing. Workers decided to volunteer themselves because management, in their view, was not doing enough. What is needed here is external support,” she said.
(SOURCE: INSIDE POLITICS)
