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Union blames factory floor murder on labour relations

Union blames factory floor murder on labour relations

ONE of the trade unions in the fishing industry has alleged that poor labour relations have led to one worker killing another with a knife on the production floor of the Novanam factory at Luderitz on Thursday evening.

Geralda Eugenia Apollus (32), a supervisor at the factory, was allegedly stabbed in the back with a company knife during the night shift. Another employee, Wilson Shikeni (40), was also stabbed in the back while trying to stop the attacker, said Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu.Police arrested the suspect, Andries Dawid Negongo (30), at his home and he is expected to appear in court today.Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) representatives at Luderitz said the incident was sparked by an argument between the deceased and the accused on Wednesday over the quality of his work.The following day Negongo received a suspension letter as he had allegedly been on a final warning, and was told to attend a disciplinary hearing.He went back to the factory floor, confronting Apollus about his suspension.Some say he than grabbed a knife, lounged at her, stabbing her up to five times, including while she lay on the floor trying to escape.He injured Wilson in the process.Nafau president David Namalenga condemned the attacker, but alleged Novanam was to blame for allegedly allowing poor labour relations to fester and using supervisors as “a sandwich” – a buffer – between management and factory workers.Namalenga said he had been informed that the accused had tried to get a hearing against the deceased but without success.”We are not condoning what happened.The underlying facts are also contributing… it’s a question of labour relations, but now it has ended up with the killing of an individual,” he said.Senior manager David Pokolo declined to comment about what had happened.He said the company had launched an internal investigation and would issue a statement thereafter.”We will do everything in our position to insure that [an incident of this nature] does not occur again,” said Pokolo.The Novanam manager declined to comment on Nafau’s accusation that his company was among the top companies with the poorest labour relations.”That’s their opinion.We have a recognition agreement with another union.”Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union president Ben Hango outrightly “condemned the lawbreaking” attitude of the attacker.Hango said that if the worker was aggrieved he should have followed the procedure laid down with his union on how to solve problems in the work place.”What happened is totally shocking,” said Hango, whose union defeated Nafau to become the sole bargaining agent of the workers.Luderitz is reported to have been in shock at the killing of Apollus on the factory line of the biggest employer in town.At 2 600 staff members, Novanam is among the biggest employers in the town.Another employee, Wilson Shikeni (40), was also stabbed in the back while trying to stop the attacker, said Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu.Police arrested the suspect, Andries Dawid Negongo (30), at his home and he is expected to appear in court today.Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) representatives at Luderitz said the incident was sparked by an argument between the deceased and the accused on Wednesday over the quality of his work.The following day Negongo received a suspension letter as he had allegedly been on a final warning, and was told to attend a disciplinary hearing.He went back to the factory floor, confronting Apollus about his suspension.Some say he than grabbed a knife, lounged at her, stabbing her up to five times, including while she lay on the floor trying to escape.He injured Wilson in the process.Nafau president David Namalenga condemned the attacker, but alleged Novanam was to blame for allegedly allowing poor labour relations to fester and using supervisors as “a sandwich” – a buffer – between management and factory workers.Namalenga said he had been informed that the accused had tried to get a hearing against the deceased but without success.”We are not condoning what happened.The underlying facts are also contributing… it’s a question of labour relations, but now it has ended up with the killing of an individual,” he said.Senior manager David Pokolo declined to comment about what had happened.He said the company had launched an internal investigation and would issue a statement thereafter.”We will do everything in our position to insure that [an incident of this nature] does not occur again,” said Pokolo.The Novanam manager declined to comment on Nafau’s accusation that his company was among the top companies with the poorest labour relations.”That’s their opinion.We have a recognition agreement with another union.”Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union president Ben Hango outrightly “condemned the lawbreaking” attitude of the attacker.Hango said that if the worker was aggrieved he should have followed the procedure laid down with his union on how to solve problems in the work place.”What happened is totally shocking,” said Hango, whose union defeated Nafau to become the sole bargaining agent of the workers.Luderitz is reported to have been in shock at the killing of Apollus on the factory line of the biggest employer in town.At 2 600 staff members, Novanam is among the biggest employers in the town.

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