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CAPE TOWN: Rhodes Food Group’s Tulbagh factory in the Western Cape will be closed until further notice.
That was after nine workers tested positive for COVID-19.
Tulbagh is in the municipality of Witzenberg, home to the majority of coronavirus cases in the province, outside the Cape Town subway.
READ: Western Cape Police to Track COVID-19 Cases
Workers at the Rhodes factory protested their working conditions during the closing period.
But the company says it is doing everything it can.
“When we were unable to move people more than 1.5 meters, we made sure that people wore masks and it has been a process to make sure everyone complies.”
“There were times when it allowed people to stand within 1.5 meters, but that was changed and the same with masks. Initially, we provided masks for transportation, but now it has also been implemented in the workplace.” Rhodes Food Group said. CEO Bruce Henderson.
The Labor Department inspected the Tulbagh site last month and approved mitigation measures.
READ: Western Cape steps up COVID-19 response
“Our intention was to continue with the skeleton personnel, but the labor department also visited us and issued the instructions that we needed to clean up with a third party again and on the Friday following the visit to the labor department and on Saturday it was cleaned and we are not sure of the way to go, “said Henderson.
Around 750 employees have been tested on-site and the facilities were thoroughly cleaned after identifying each COVID-19 case.
