Africa-Press – Eswatini. A post-mortem which was conducted on four bodies of the cane cutters who died in a bus accident at Mhlume indicates that drowning became a prominent factor that led to their death.
A total of seven cane cutters died when an overloaded staff bus developed a mechanical fault while crossing the Mbuluzi River at Masuku Bridge on Monday morning.
The bus belonged to D & S Investments, a cane cutters company, which is contracted to Royal Eswatini Sugar (RES) Corporation. In an interview, Jabulani Magagula, who is one of the managers in the company, said a total of 94 workers who were aboard the bus were treated and discharged at RES Corporation clinics at Mhlume, Ngomane and Simunye.
This was after 23 of the workers were said to have been treated for injuries they sustained, while 94 of them only went through check-ups as they had no visible injuries. A post-mortem was conducted at Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital yesterday.
A senior police officer, Senzo Dlamini, who had accompanied the relatives to the hospital said they only managed to have the postmortem conducted on four bodies as they were still working on locating families of the other three deceased persons.
When interviewed, one of the relatives said the pathologist informed them that drowning, coupled with internal injuries sustained were the main causes of death.
Apparently, the seven workers who eventually died in the accident were those who remained trapped under the submerged bus for over 30 minutes. It is believed that they drowned while waiting for help under water.
The relative who however asked not to be named said a lot of water was drained out of the deceased’s body. “We believe that the deceased may have survived if he did not get trapped under the water for a long time”, said the relative.
Another relative, Homeboy Myeni, said the accident happened right before him as he was aboard another staff bus belonging to another contractor company.
“The deceased person is my nephew, and I am still traumatised by the fact that he died right before me as he remained trapped under water,” said Myeni.
Myeni said they were trailing the bus as they were also going to their work- stations.
He disclosed that his nephew, Zweli Msibi of Lavumisa had a few visible injuries, mostly on the parts which remained trapped under the bus. Another relative, Norah Dlamini said they were still shocked following the incident.
“Police came to inform us about the accident which claimed the life of my nephew yesterday,” said Dlamini. Dlamini is an aunt to Sikhumbuzo Mabuza of Madlangempisi who also died on the spot. She said they were currently working on burial logistics as some relatives were still not aware of the death of one of their own.
Over 100 jobs on edge following fatal accident
The future of over 100 workers who are employed by the cane cutting contractor, D & S Investments, is uncertain following the bus accident which claimed seven lives.
When interviewed at Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital where a postmortem was conducted, the company’s Senior Manager Jabulani Magagula, said they were still in shock and confused after losing seven of the company’s employees.
“It is very saddening to lose lives in such a manner, and we are currently working hard to keep things together as a company,” he said.
Magagula said this was the worst incident they have ever had as a company, and therefore it was hard for them to comprehend. He then disclosed that they had since suspended operations as a company, leaving all workers off work.
“At the present moment we are not even sure on when to resume operations, and that is if we will still have a contract,” he said. In the event the company loses its contract, the company’s employees will be left without jobs. Apparently, the cane cutting jobs are seasonal.
Meanwhile, Magagula said they were still working closely with the affected families on what is to be done next.
At the time of compiling this report, Magagula said they were still trying to locate the relatives of three of the deceased persons. It was for this reason that only the four identified workers underwent the postmortem yesterday.
SAPWU concerned about cane cutting workers’ safety
The Swaziland Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (SAPWU) has expressed its concerns about the safety of workers under the sugar cane industry, especially those employed by subcontracting companies.
SAPWU Chairperson Malungisa Dlamini said the accident had raised a question of safety of workers who were employed by contracted companies. He noted that the staff bus which reportedly developed a mechanical fault appeared to be unroadworthy and unfit to transport workers.
“The fact that the bus was overloaded with over 25 passengers raises the alarm about the safety of workers in the sugar cane industry,” he said. Dlamini said it was expected that major companies which outsourced work to subcontractors must ensure that the contractor had adequate resources for the job.
“Outsourcing companies must have stern policies that speak to the safety of workers,” he said. Meanwhile, Dlamini said the union would make a follow-up on the events of the accident and make means to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The deceased cane cutting workers who were positively identified yesterday are: Banele Ben Dlamini of Sigwe, Sikhumbuzo Mabuza of Madlangempisi and Zweli Msibi of Lavumisa.
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