A group of Wentworth homeowners bordering the Jacobs Industrial area, where a factory was gutted by a fire, said they were concerned about their safety. 

According to a report from the eThekwini Municipality, two firemen sustained second-degree burns, and six people were rescued by firefighters on Monday.

The factory, located on Brooklyn Road, manufactures shoes and sandals. 

In December 2019, a significant portion of the building was destroyed by a fire and has since been rebuilt. In 2018, a fire also destroyed another portion of the premises. 

During attempts to extinguish the fire on Monday, an explosion erupted from the main structure, and although no firefighters were inside, two members were injured, said Gugu Sisilana, spokesperson for the municipality.

“An extension of the same factory on the northern side, used for storing shoe products and machinery, had also ignited. The factory to the south remained protected by favourable winds, and while nearby residential homes to the east weren’t threatened by flames, they were heavily affected by smoke,” Sisilana said. 

She said that factory managers confirmed all staff had evacuated, and no injuries were initially reported, but the firefighters received a report of persons trapped in the southern factory.

Sisilana stated that crews immediately acted, rescuing six individuals from the first floor using a ground ladder.

“During the operations, an explosion erupted from the main structure, triggering partial collapse and a high-pressure flame burst. Two members sustained second-degree burns and were treated by KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services and transported to the hospital.”  

The fire raised safety concerns among Wentworth residents bordering the factories, said Aubrey Snyman, eThekwini Ward 68 councillor, who met with homeowners and then the factory managers on Thursday. 

Debbie Marillier, whose backyard faces the factory, believes it is not inspected regularly by officials.  

Marillier stated that her dog, known as Dollars, alerted them to the fire by barking at her bedroom window.

She said that when she went outside, she felt the heat from the fire and immediately began hosing down her backyard to prevent it from spreading onto her grass.

She also complained about cracks appearing on their properties and walls because of the machinery being used in the factory and the vibrations it caused throughout the day. 

On Thursday, she had completed the clean-up of black ash in her home and driveway. 

“At least for now, the continuous drilling and banging will give us peace of mind. We are grateful for the efforts put in by the firefighters,” she said. 

Snyman said he had requested that all municipal departments come forth and deal with the residents’ concerns.

He said the damages to the houses were a serious concern, including one of the boundary walls collapsing about two years ago.

According to Snyman, discussions will be held with municipal officials to ensure the safety of residents going forward.  

A manager at the factory, who did not want to be named, denied that anyone was working at the time of the fire.

He was more concerned with the number of people out of a job because of the fire, adding that his factory complied with all the regulations and declined to comment further. 

The municipality stated that all factories are inspected for compliance with various Environmental Health Regulations. Compliance monitoring focuses on the following:

• Occupational health and safety. 
• Waste management and final disposal requirements.
• Natural and artificial ventilation.
• Vector/pest control.
• Chemical safety.
• Indoor and ambient air quality.

According to the municipality, based on Environmental Health norms and standards, manufacturing companies must be inspected yearly, be registered with relevant authorities, namely, the Department of Labour, SARS, Land Use Management for zoning, and the Water and Sanitation Department, should they require an effluent discharge permit.

Over and above, the municipality stated that they need to comply with the Schedule Activities By-law, which defines the listed activities requiring permits.

Sisilana said that these permits are issued with stringent conditions, which carry fines should there be non-compliance.

She added that several premises have been fined, issued with directives, and some were required to close.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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