GroundUp reports that the snacks factory where a worker lost his hand in January has now been certified compliant with health and safety regulations by the Eastern Cape Department of Employment and Labour (DEL).

The DEL launched an inspection on 15 January after Eugene Jali’s hand was severed in a machine at the Komani plant of Truda Foods. The company was found to be in contravention of regulations and a notice was issued to that effect. DEL communications officer Ziphozihle Josefu said the company was given 60 days to ensure that revised safety measures were put in place. “The follow-up for Truda Foods was done on 23 March 2021 and the employer was found compliant with the contravention notice that was served. More supervisors were assigned in all the machine lines,” said Josefu. Jali told Groundup this week that he was recovering at his home in Kwazulu-Natal. “The company is taking care of me. I don’t have any grievances or complaints because all is well. I am recovering and often go to Komani for medical checkups,” said Jali. Truda Foods has had a turbulent relationship with a group of its workers who belong to the SA Security and Allied Workers Union (Saswu), in Komani, and also with members of the Professional Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA (Ptawu) in Pietermaritzburg, who complain of frequent injuries on duty.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Joseph Chirume at GroundUp

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