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Department of Mineral & Energy (DME) OHS Chat & Skinner Newsletters Exclusive Subscriber Newsletter Employer's Rights |
OHS CHAT & SKINNER : "FOOT-IN-MOUTH-DISEASE"! Date: 12 January 2003. Hi Folks This is your Devil's Advocate at your service and firmly back in the saddle after......I must get this right......an annus horribilis! I was hoping to boast that, for once, I only had mineral water today but, alas, I was way laid. Living in vibrant Melville, my disloyal friends decided that we should go for sun-downers...... and so here I am with a glass of mineral water in my hand........ (it's Sunday night 12 January 2003). You may ask why the above title? Well where shall I begin. While we were all holidaying/braaing/suiping/ there was a huge outbreak of foot-in-mouth-disease. Started by our erstwhile Minister of Non-Health, who allegedly claimed, during the ANC Piss-up (I mean Congress), that we should divert (aids) funding to armaments to protect us against a US invasion. Naturally miss quoted. Then our Honourable Minister of Labour, who presides over the disintegrating OHS inspectorate, hailed the Zimbabwean land grab/theft as a shining example of land reform! While he was singing the praises of that large scale land theft by that country's ruling elite (a judge has now also sommer climbed in to claim a farm), the Zimbabwean Minister of Propaganda, Moyo Goebbels, was allegedly stocking up on food in SA while dondering his family in a drunken brawl in a local hotel! Well done Minister Mdlalana. Your OHS Inspectorate's lacklustre performance makes so much sense to me now. I think you need to change your circle of friends! (See photo of the Honourable Minister on my website at www.klasslooch.com). Speaking of lacklustre performance, I feel duty bound to quote from the magistrate who presided over the Lenasia trial which was concluded with little fan fare last year via the now legal "Plea bargain". (I mean how can any of the current inspectors be subjected to testifying in a trial - as experts nogal)! Regional Court magistrate Caren Nienaber imposed fines on the owner of ESS Chemicals, who were charged with 11 counts of culpable homicide (manslaughter for our overseas readers), after 11 workers were burnt to death after allegedly being locked up in a factory which caught alight. She said..."Had the Department of Labour inspectors done their duty and inspected the premises of ESS Chemicals, the 11 might still be alive". (The OHS Inspectorate had prior warning of the unsafe conditions in the factory and failed to react). Go to www.klasslooch.com for more. Hello civil suits! Loads more to tell you. I'm hungry for work. Those Subscribers who haven't heard from me yet, will this week. Others wait your turn. I had all kinds of brave undertakings to work over the festive period but decided I need a rest. Ja what else. Oh yes. A horrible train accident in the Western Cape. Why can't the damn gravy train crash for a change. (See the front page of the Sunday Times entitled "Safety Chief's turbulent tenure" and "Hey, Big Spender"). Folks, essentially this quickie is to wish all employers and you readers of this newsletter a prosperous, safe and healthy New Year. I have a good feeling about it. As always Your
Devil's Advocate Views expressed do not represent those of any sane person or those of Klass Looch Associates. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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