Richards Bay accident: Calls for improved safety gear
A survivor of the fatal boating accident in Richards Bay on the north coast says the five KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board members on board had not been wearing their life jackets at the time of the incident.
Eric Buthelezi was one of two people rescued after their boat capsized off Newark beach last week.
Speaking to Newswatch at yesterday's Durban memorial service for his two colleagues who drowned, Buthelezi explained that they are unable to do their work with the current safety jackets.
"We didn't have our life jackets on because they don't allow us to work efficiently. We do wear them while we are assessing sea conditions but take them off when we start working. They are not the type that can be secured tightly. By the looks of things - they would have fallen off as we battled the rough waves," Buthelezi said.
Richard Gumede and Mandlakayise Gumede died in the accident. Authorities are still searching for Siyabonga Gabela who is missing at sea.
Striking workers say they have asked management on numerous occasions for their safety gear to be changed.
Sharks Board CEO, Mthokozisi Radebe says they are carrying out their own investigation into what happened.
"I can't speculate as to what transpired on that day. We don't compromise on safety as management," Radebe said.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board CEO, Sipho Mkhize says they want to make sure there are no repeats of last week's tragedy.