BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MANZINI – The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, has launched an occupational safety and health investigation following a fatal accident at Bhunu Mall that claimed the life of a worker and left others injured.
The accident occurred on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, when a building structure collapsed during work activities at the mall.
In a ministerial statement issued on Wednesday, August 19, the Ministry expressed deep concern over the incident and extended sincere condolences to the family, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased worker.
The Ministry also wished the injured workers a speedy recovery.
The investigation will seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident and examine the factors that contributed to the collapse. It will also assess compliance with applicable occupational safety and health requirements.
The Ministry said the investigation would be allowed to follow due process and that further information would be communicated as appropriate.
The incident has prompted the Ministry to remind employers, contractors, workers and all other people involved in construction, renovation and related activities that the protection of life and safety must remain a fundamental priority throughout the planning and execution of work.
The Ministry emphasised that the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2001 places a clear duty on employers and occupiers to ensure the safety and health of employees by providing safe and healthy working conditions.
The Act requires employers to systematically identify, evaluate and control workplace hazards and ensure that work is effectively supervised and undertaken without exposing workers to unnecessary risks.
The Ministry further reminded stakeholders that the law prohibits any person from doing anything that endangers, or is likely to endanger, the safety, health or welfare of themselves or any other person.
This places a strong responsibility on everyone involved in construction and renovation projects to ensure that work is properly planned, coordinated and supervised.
The Ministry urged employers, contractors and workers to take proactive measures to identify and control hazards before and throughout work activities.
The Bhunu Mall accident has highlighted the importance of maintaining strict safety standards at construction and renovation sites, where effective hazard identification, supervision and compliance can help prevent injuries and loss of life.
The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening occupational safety and health enforcement and promoting compliance with the law across the Kingdom.
The Ministry further said it would continue working with employers, workers and other stakeholders to build safer and healthier workplaces.
As the investigation proceeds, the Ministry has called on all employers, contractors and workers to place the protection of human life at the centre of every workplace activity and ensure that safety requirements are observed at all times.
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