Inquiry into 2018 Rheinmetall Denel fatal incident to resume on October 19

18th October 2021 By: Schalk Burger - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

The Department of Employment and Labour's (DEL's) inquiry into the events that led to a fatal incident at Rheinmetall Denel Munition's facility in Macasser, in the Western Cape, in 2018, is set to resume from October 19 to 22.

This is the second sitting since the 2018 explosion at the munitions plant resulted in the death of nine workers.

The DEL ordered the establishment of a Section 32 inquiry to investigate violations of Occupational Health and Safety, and appointed Mphumzi Dyulete as the presiding inspector. The inquiry could not continue in 2020 owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

Dyulete says 17 witnesses are lined up to give evidence.

“The inquiry is continuing this week and the commission will hear testimony from all interested parties as to what transpired during that fatal day.

"Once the commission of inquiry has established what 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,” says Dyulete.