KZN set for fitness test deaths inquiry
2013-02-19 17:04
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Durban - A commission of inquiry into the deaths of seven aspirant traffic
officers in KwaZulu-Natal was nearing formation, premier Zweli Mkhize said on
Tuesday.
Mkhize said a commissioner had been approached and that "as soon as we
get the okay, we are ready to move".
Permission for a judicial inquiry had to be obtained at a national level and
there were "processes to go through" before it could be established,
he said.
Mkhize was briefing reporters in Durban, where he is attending a provincial
government lekgotla.
The seven aspirant traffic officers died during a 4km run, which was part of
a fitness test at the Harry Gwala stadium, in Pietermaritzburg, in December.
One of the seven allegedly committed suicide. They had responded to a Road
Traffic Inspectorate recruitment drive.
More than 34 000 people had qualified to apply for the 90 advertised trainee
posts.
A total of 15 600 applicants attended the fitness test on Thursday, 27 December,
and a similar number on the Friday. An unknown number of them collapsed due to
the heat. Many were taken to hospital.
Mkhize declined to say when he expected the nod for the commission to be
formed.
- SAPA
