Cape Town - Arms manufacturer Denel has been accused of "total disregard for the health and welfare of employees".

The South African chairperson of the Economists Allied for Arms Reduction (ECAAR), Terry Crawford-Browne, told the National Assembly's defence committee that according to trade unionists workers at Denel's Swartklip plant "don't live very long".

They lost their hands, legs, eyesight, hearing, mental faculties, and many developed heart disease, arthritis and cancers.

They were given R1 000 and told to pay their own medical bills, he said.

"People at both Swartklip and Somchem are intimidated by Denel to remain silent," Crawford-Browne added.

Former employees

Crawford-Browne was accompanied by a number of former Swartklip employees, among them Eerste River mother-of-three Petra Daniels (43), who lost both her hands in an explosion at Swartklip in 1982.

Recalling the incident on Tuesday, she dabbed away the tears with what is left of her hands. They were bandaged.

"For a long time I did not want to leave my house. After today, I feel good about myself again."

Committee chairperson Thandi Modise said the committee took note and would "interact" with Denel on health and safety issues.

Denel Corporate Affairs Director Thembi Tulwana said the arms manufacturer had in place all safety, health and environmental policies normally associated with manufacturing industries.

"Its safety and health standards are underscored by the five-star NOSCAR ratings (National Occupational Health Association) found at the divisions," said Tulwana.

With acknowledgements to www.news24.co.za and Die Burger.