Times Of Swaziland: SPILT TOXIC CARGO VICTIMS DEMAND COMPENSATION

SPILT TOXIC CARGO VICTIMS DEMAND COMPENSATION
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 BY KHULEKANI NENE on 16/10/2017 08:40:00


LUGONGOLWENI – Some of the people who were severely burnt by the highly toxic
substance which fell from an overturned truck near Siteki last week, want to be
compensated for the injuries they suffered.
They are accusing the Mozambican company, which was transporting the substance,
of deliberately exposing them to the highly corrosive chemical, which was
identified as Caustic Soda.
The five people, who were interviewed separately on Saturday, clarified that
they did not loot substance after the truck accident but, instead said they were
requested by the truck driver and his bosses to re-load the bags into a another
truck, which was brought immediately after the accident. They distanced
themselves from the other groups of people who allegedly looted the contents of
the truck under the impression that the substance was fertiliser.
“We are not part of those who looted but the truck owners engaged us to
re-load the toxic substance into the truck after the accident. They knowingly
made us touch the highly toxic substance and provided no safety clothing except
for small hand gloves,” said Zakhele Mkhabela (30), who suffered severe
injuries to his lower body and is struggling to walk.
He revealed that the truck owners paid them E300 for reloading the toxic
substance into the other truck.
Narrating how he got to the accident scene, Mkhabela, who is a security guard,
said he was returning from work at a local nigh spot early in the morning when
he spotted flashing lights of emergency vehicles and police cars.
Curious on what had happened, Mkhabela said he proceeded to the scene and
discovered that a Mozambican-registered truck had overturned.
He said after the truck driver had been extricated from the overturned truck,
another truck arrived from neighbouring Mozambique.
He said by that time, there were other members of the public who were at the
accident scene. He stated that the owners of the truck requested that they
reload the spilt bags into the replacement truck, promising to pay them.