Inquiry into deaths of job seekers continues

Inquiry into deaths of job seekers continues

A commission of inquiry into the deaths of eight people following a fitness test for Road Traffic Inspectorate jobs continues in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

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A commission of inquiry into the deaths of eight people following a fitness test for Road Traffic Inspectorate jobs continues in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
 
In December, eight people died after taking part in a four kilometre run at the Harry Gwala stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
 
The fitness test was part of the Road Traffic Inspectorate's job recruitment process.
 
More than 34,000 people qualified to apply for the 90 advertised trainee posts. A total of 15,600 applicants attended a fitness test on December 27 and a similar number another test on December 28.
 
It was suspected that some died of dehydration. At the time it was reported one of the applicants committed suicide after the test.
 
The commission was appointed by KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize.
 
It was tasked with determining the cause of the deaths and injuries, the appropriateness of the recruitment process, whether contingency plans were in place, and whether statutory requirements were followed.
 
It would also investigate whether there was possible negligence and sufficient medical resources, refreshments and ablution facilities during the fitness test.
 
On Tuesday, the commission heard accusations that police beat people who failed to obey instructions on the day.
 
Witness Minenhle Mazwi Mbandlwa said police dragged a man out of an area designated for successful applicants and that others were beaten.
 
Mbandlwa was testifying in connection with the death of his cousin Sanele Ngcobo, a job applicant who was found with a 13cm cut across on his neck after the fitness test.
 
-Sapa

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