CSV construction is refusing to engage with NUM after a worker died on duty at their Mitchell's Plain site on Tuesday

Press Statement, 13 October 2022

CSV construction is refusing to engage with NUM after a worker died on duty at their Mitchell's Plain site on Tuesday

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Western Cape- a worker-orientated union organizing in the construction, metal, energy and mining sector has learned with shock the incident involving workers from CSV Construction while on duty in their Mitchell's Plain site. On Tuesday morning, two workers inhaled hazardous fumes from the sewage waste, which led to their untimely death and one is fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit. 

Upon visiting the company on Wednesday morning for an in-loco inspection, the union was met with hostility by the company representatives who refused to even engage with the union with claims that their head office instructed them not to.

While an investigation is being conducted and has not yet reached a conclusion, it is alleged that the workers were unsupervised in a hazardous area of operation. 

The union will continue to engage both the company and the Department of Labour and Employment to form part of an ongoing investigation around the incident. We will independently interrogate the company's safety procedures, risk assessment plans and all related policies.

In the profit-driven capitalist economic trajectory, it is common for companies to rake in profit without ensuring the safety of the workers, the union will not sit and idle while this is happening.

The NUM Western Cape Regional Office Bearers will visit the homes of the departed members to pay their last respect.

Issued by NUM Western Cape

For more detailed information, please contact:

Soso Fisa, NUM Western Cape Regional Secretary: 073 159 5213