Denel explosion brings back traumatic memories of 2018 explosion
Just days after family members of the eight people killed in a 2018 explosion at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) factory held a protest demanding the facility be closed down, an explosion at the plant lit up Cape Town's skies on Sunday night.
Denel investigating cause of the fire on Sunday
CAPE TOWN - While no casualties were reported after Sunday’s explosion at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) site, families of the 2018 explosion victims said the event brought back traumatic memories.
Wife of slain Nico Samuels, Tracy Samuels, said after she had been alerted to the explosion, “it was like reliving the trauma again”.
“The incident was very triggering, thinking back to September 3, 2018. I was fast asleep at the time due to medication but when I got the messages to look outside my window - where I have a clear view of the RDM site - it was very traumatic. All I could think about was the repeated devastation.
“What we know is that the surrounding community is still not safe and the company has to answer and be accountable. We heard during the section 32 inquiry two weeks ago that the building structures are not up to par,” said Samuels.
According to Samuels, Sunday’s explosion was different from the 2018 -incident in which eight people were killed - as Sunday’s “fire lingered long after the explosion”.
“Our people are anxious and this obviously took them right back to the previous time. This happened just days after we had picketed in front of RDM calling for the immediate suspension of the explosive licenses. RDM must explain and set the record straight because our loved ones are not safe there,” said Samuels.
RDM spokesperson, Ruby Maree, said the cause of the fire at the N86 magazine building is yet to be determined.
“At approximately 11pm (Sunday) night a fire broke out in a building at our Somerset West site. The fire was contained to the N86 magazine building and was extinguished by our internal fire department and the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, who reacted in line with all of our safety protocols.
“No injuries or casualties were reported. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, however, police (were) on the scene and we are working closely with them. A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the events leading up to the fire. We will share further information as it becomes available to us,” said Maree.
Ward councillor, Rhoda Bazier, said RDM owed an explanation to the public.
“When I arrived at site, all emergency services were on scene. Many residents from the surrounding community were standing outside wanting to know what is going on because you could see from a far distance, the plume of smoke.
“The fact remains that the buildings at RDM are unsafe as alluded to in the section 32 inquiry where the civil engineer gave testimony. This explosion again shows that the buildings are unsafe. We will set up a meeting with RDM this week to engage on what happened,” said Bazier.
Department of labour provincial chief inspector, David Esau, said they would release a statement after a visit to the site.
“We are still awaiting a report. The fire made it impossible to visit the site so this will be done (today) and we will release a report after the visit,” said Esau.
Police spokesperson Vish Naidoo said no criminal or any other case had been registered with the police regarding this incident.
Cape Times