CAPE TOWN - Risk assessment processes had been amiss at the time of the Rheinmetall Denel Munition explosion.
This emerged on the second day of the second sitting for the commission of inquiry into the explosion which claimed the lives of eight employees while several others were injured on September 3, 2018.
Witness and factory engineer Janse van Rensburg on Wednesday confirmed that the risk assessment process to have a new valve fitted at the N16 plant, where the explosion occurred, had not been completed.
Van Rensburg, who had been part of the modification committee and a plant manager at the time, confirmed that he was unaware that the new valve had been fitted the Friday and came to know of this only after the explosion occurred.
Evidence and testimony given detailed that a valve had been fitted at the N16 plant's blending drum - where propellant was blended - on the Friday before the explosion on the Monday.
Families of the explosion victims were relieved at this information which emerged.
Lizle Davids, mother of explosion victim Triston Davids, said they "see a light at the end of the tunnel".
"Today it was blatant that a procedure that should have been followed, was not followed...Our loved ones died when they started that machine (at N16). It is frustrating that they skipped the whole process. If they followed the process, none of this would have happened," said Davids.
Families said this was important information that emerged and they were hopeful that justice would be served.
Inquiry chairperson, Mphumzi Dyulete, said once the commission of inquiry had established what happened it would compile a report and recommendations to the department’s chief inspector who would hand over the report to the National Prosecutions Authority for consideration.
Cape Times