This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
News24 reports that a survivor of the deadly gas explosion that claimed two lives and injured four others at Zodwa Special School in Pretoria was forced to smash down a bathroom window to free himself and two others from a blaze engulfing the prefabricated structure.
The workers were busy gluing carpet on the floor and attaching ceilings to the mobile classroom when the fire, which was allegedly deliberately started by 34-year-old Moloko Ramogwadi, broke out. Ramogwadi is accused of throwing an opened gas cylinder inside the classroom causing the inferno. He might have started the fire because he was disgruntled after not being included in the team of plumbers working on the new block of classrooms. Carpenter John Ngwentyana reported: “We heard a thunderous blast, followed by screams from our colleagues. We went to check and found the classroom engulfed in flames. Everyone was panicking, screaming." They all rushed to get out through the bathroom but were locked in. Ngwentyana indicated: “I had to use my bare hands to break the steel burglar bar and then I broke the window. I jumped out first and my two other colleagues followed.” One of their colleagues who panicked and ran back into the classroom, presumably to try to leave through the classroom door, was trapped and burnt to death.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24 (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page