Denel factory: last victims named

THE identities of eight people who were killed in an explosion at a Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) factory in Somerset West on September 3 have been released.

The families of those affected were invited to an information session with the forensic pathology service.

Once the families had received the information, they gave permission to RDM to share this with the public at large, said RDM chief executive Norbert Schulze.

RDM has confirmed that the following staff members died on the day of the incident:

z Nico Angelo Samuels, 41, plant supervisor.

z Stevon Robert Isaacs, 51, team leader.

z Mxolisi Sigadla, 40, operator. z Bradley Tandy, 19, operator. z Jamie Lesley Haydricks, 24, operator. z Jason Hartzenberg, 22, operator. z Triston Lance David, 22, operator.

z Thandolwethu Mankayi, 27, operator.

“We can now begin making funeral arrangements and we can proceed with the other tributes we had planned to honour our colleagues.

“The whole of RDM is mourning with the families,” said Schulze.

RDM appealed to the media to give the families the space they needed to mourn now that they had received this information.

RDM hosted a lunch this week for the families affected by the incident.

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and chairperson of the Rheinmetall Group Armin Papperger were present at the occasion to engage with the families and offer support.

The event was part of a series of engagements with the families, RDM staff and the greater community. |