Johannesburg – Workers at SA Steel Mill watched in shock and horror as their 26-year-old colleague was crushed to death by a pressing machine.
The dead man has since been identified as Seamogelo Mkhondwane.
Soon after the incident on Thursday morning, the owner of SA Steel Mill, Rafik Mohamed, ordered the traumatised workers to resume operations.
However, the workers said they were too traumatised to do so.
Commenting on the matter on Friday, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) said, “It condemns the owner of SA Steel Mill, Mr. Rafik Mohamed for his inhumane and cold-hearted reaction in the face of the death of a worker at the company”.
Narrating the tragic incident, Irvin Jim NUMSA General Secretary said: “Yesterday around 9 am, a worker at SA Steel Mill was unfortunately crushed by one of the pressing machines”.
Jim added: “The workers name was Seamogelo Mkhondwane and he was only 26 years old.
“In the immediate aftermath of Seamogelos death, Rafik demanded that workers must resume their duties and go back to work.
“Our members refused to resume their duties because they were traumatised.
“Some of them knew Seamogelo and were understandably mourning his untimely death at the workplace and they withdrew their labour out of respect for him.”
Jim said the workers were worried about their safety because the death of Seamogelo at their workplace indicates health and safety protocols were likely violated.
“And in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, workers have the right not to work, if they feel unsafe,” Jim said.
“This is not the first time that injuries have taken place at SA Steel Mill, and this is why our members were justified in refusing to continue working.
“However, Rafik insisted that if workers did not return to work immediately, he would take disciplinary action against them.”
The workers allege that Rafik was planning to obtain scab labour to replace them.
“We condemn Rafik because he demonstrated his hatred and racism towards workers,” Jim said.
NUMSA said it has since found out that out of 1 000 workers employed at SA Steel Mill, only 200 are South Africans.
“We demand that SA Steel mills must stop employing undocumented foreign nationals, which is a flagrant violation of the labour laws,” said Jim.
“These workers are grossly exploited. and some of them are victims of horrific accidents while on the job.”
The Metals and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council rate is over R40 per hour, but workers said Rafik was only paying them R25 per hour.
Workers at the SA Steel Mill also complained of frequent injuries.
“We have reported the fatality to the Department of Employment and Labour and this time we are demanding that they take drastic measures against SA Steel Mill,” said Jim.
“That place is like a prison for workers who are undocumented foreign nationals. They are kept in the plant.”
Jim said a meeting with the management of SA Steel Mill has been organised for Monday.
SA Steel Mill’s comment will be added as soon as possible.
