Spokesperson, Kgojane Matutle, confirmed to OFM News that the incident did occur and that they are investigating.

This after the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the Free State released a statement on Friday demanding an investigation into the matter, alleging that the incident had been exacerbated by the municipality’s failure to ensure that the truck in question was roadworthy.

Cosatu further alleges that the license disc was last renewed in 2016 and demands answers as to why this was allowed to happened.

Provincial Secretary, Monyatso oa Mahlatsi, stated “It cannot be that the government, that is supposed to be the custodians of health and safety and road laws, is implicated in such a blatant violation of laws”.

Matutle vehemently refuted the allegations that the vehicle was not roadworthy.

“The spokesperson says the truck’s license was indeed renewed, the problem is that it was lying in the vehicle’s cubbyhole and was not displayed as is required by law.”

Matutle expressed his condolences to the loved ones of the deceased man.

This latest incident follows about a month after two Moqhaka local municipality workers fell into a sewerage hole in Viljoenskroon.

One of the employees lost his life in the incident while the second person was rescued by emergency medical personnel and treated for being exposed to poison used in sewerage treatment chemicals.

Moqhaka spokesperson, Dika Kheswa, told OFM News at the time that an investigation will be conducted into the incident.

OFM News