Johannesburg Metropolitan Council slapped with a prohibition notice

While the search for the three-year-old Karabo Gwala who fell into an open sewerage manhole on Monday afternoon in Dube continues, preliminary investigations by the Department of Labour have established that the company conducting maintenance work before the accident violated Health and Safety Regulations.

Inspectors found that the sewerage hole was not barricaded at the time of the incident, and no warning signs were positioned next to an excavation.

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana who conveyed his condolences to the Gwala family - had earlier instructed inspectors to leave no stone unturned when investigating this matter.

The Minister specifically ordered inspectors to investigate whether barriers had been erected around the manhole, and if there had been a supervisor on site as stipulated in the Occupational Health and Safety regulations.

Following the preliminary investigations the Department of Labour inspectors issued a Prohibition Notice on the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council - and had since instructed them to adequately barricade the open manhole.

"It is the duty of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council authorities to ensure that the necessary barriers were in place and workers operated under supervision at all times in order to avoid tragedies of this nature," said Minister Mdladlana.

He emphasized that Health and Safety Regulations are not only there to protect the safety of workers, but also the general public in the vicinity.

Labour inspectors are currently interviewing witnesses and will soon forward a report to the National Director of Prosecution with recommendations.