As the Congress of South African Trade Unios(COSATU) in KZN, our hearts are heavy in sorrow about the depressing news of the passing-on of six Forest Firefighter workers in Midlands, Howick.

We have been in contact with the workers, and they have informed us that the firefighter workers lost their lives while they were busy trying to put out the blazing fire flames in a windy weather condition.

One of the workers is reported to still be in hospital. This happens hardly two months after four construction workers died on site in Ballito after the sand bank collapsed while they were busy working. It also happens at a time when COSATU KZN is commencing its campaign for ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety and the National Minimum Wage for workers in vulnerable sectors.

Our PEC last week was concerned that workers’ standards of work is deteriorating. Workers toil for many years for the wealth which they do not own.

The economy is still not benefiting the workers, they retire and die poor. The demise of the six firefighters in line of duty proves one thing that this campaign by COSATU is more urgent than ever.

The leadership of COSATU and our affiliated union, CEPPAWU will tomorrow, Tuesday pay visit to the site. The visit will afford the leadership of COSATU space to make its own assessment, to make sure that the interest of the families of the victims and that of the workers is acknowledged, and further assess other interventions the leadership of COSATU shall take forward.

We wish to pass our condolences to the families of the deceased workers, also the members of community who have suffered due to this incident.

We further wish those who are in hospital a speedy recovery.

Issued by COSATU KZN

Provincial Secretary

Edwin Mkhize

082 399 7756