RES Corp employee dies in line of duty

MBABANE – A dark cloud hovered over the Royal Eswatini Sugar (RES) Corporation when it lost an employee in his line of duty.

Sources said the fatal accident happened on Friday morning in the cane fields at Thunzini, under the Mhlume Estate.

Mathangamahle Tutu Vilane (53) was reportedly trapped by a concrete slab that was used to cover sub-surface drain boxes in the fields.

FALLEN TO HIS DEATH

The incident happened early in the morning on Friday, just after 6am before their shift started.

The deceased who worked under the Agriculture Department is said to have fallen to his death into the drain.

Information from his next of kin,

Magebane Vilane, who is his elder brother said they were informed that the deceased was in the field with another employee working and waiting for the tractor to arrive.

The deceased leaves behind his wife and three male children.

The also shared that a colleague of the deceased is said to have heard screams for help from Vilane while they waited.

SCREAMS

Separated by a distance, the colleague quickly ran towards the direction of the screams, only to be met by the horrifying sight of Vilane trapped in the drain by the heavy concrete lid.

He then called for help whereupon medical personnel arrived with company management and the police.

They retrieved the body.

Group Public Affairs Manager of RES Corp Sifiso Nyembe said the deceased was certified dead by medical personnel.

He also said it was unclear how he ended up inside and trapped by the drain lid.

“As a company we are saddened by the death of the employee and we are equally confused how it actually happened. An incident of this nature has never occurred in memorable history and we are keenly awaiting reports that will be a product of the investigations that police and our company safety personnel are currently engaged in,” Nyembe said.

ACCIDENT

Nyembe said the company management met with the family quickly after the accident to convey the sad message, as well as offer comfort and support.

Nyembe said the safety of employees was their biggest priority and they continue to invest actively in this area.

He said they were disappointed that they had encountered an incident that had taken one of their employees.

Nyembe pledged the company’s investment to ensuring that the causes of an accident of this nature are identified and addressed.

INVESTIGATORS

“Our sincere wish is to never see another accident that injures and takes away the life of any of our people.

“We will fully support investigators in the quest to find the actual cause of this accident, because we are also keenly interested in addressing the cause and other gaps that may still exist in this area.

“Our thoughts are with the family and we will work together with

them through this sad moment,´ he said.

7he 9ilane spoNesperson Magebane said they noted that the lids of the drains were too small to obscure the opening. +e also said they advised the company to go for overlapping lids in order to avoid more accidents of this nature.

'eputy Police Information and Commu nications Officer (PICO) Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the report.

(Courtesy pic) This is an intact sub-surface drain box which may not precisely show the depth of the one where the employee was trapped by the drain lid. It is understood that the depth of the drain box in question is 1.5 metres. RES Corp has instituted investigations into the incident and has met the bereaved family to pass condolences.