PELINDABA ‘SICK’ FED-UP

“ENOUGH is enough.” That’s what led Alfred Sepepe and a group of his ailing for mer colleagues at Pelindaba to protest there this week.

This week, the group handed over a memorandum to the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), demanding accountability for 200 former workers who claim they contracted occupational diseases while working for Necsa-run nuclear facilities decades ago.

Sepepe told how the ex-workers had handed over a memorandum in January 2007 to Necsa, documenting how they were af fected because of the lack of safety conditions.

“The matter was not dealt with. Some of our former colleagues are dying because of chemical radiation and other injuries.”

In a recent letter from the public protector’s office, Sepepe was infor med that the date of finalisation of its investigation, since 2010, “cannot be confirmed at this stage”.

In 2012, Earthlife Africa had for mally handed over the records and medical files of hundreds of the workers to the public protector, who investigated the allegations that working at Necsa left many of them ter minally ill and caused the death of dozens.

Necsa said it successfully applied inter national standards and procedures to protect its workers. “The allegations are currently being investigated by the public protector.

“We await the report and will abide by the outcome.” – Sheree Bega