The commission of inquiry probing the KwaZulu-Natal fitness test which ended with fatalities among the participants adjourned early to accomodate a witness.
|||Pietermaritzburg - The commission of inquiry probing the KwaZulu-Natal fitness test which ended with fatalities among the participants adjourned early on Wednesday in Pietermaritzburg.
A lawyer for the department of transport, Ravenda Padayachee, asked for an adjournment because his witness had an unexpected family matter to attend to.
The commission of inquiry was probing the deaths of eight people who took part in a 4km run at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg in December.
This formed part of a fitness test for Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) job applicants. More than 40,000 people qualified to apply for 90 advertised RTI trainee posts.
Of these, 20 000 applicants attended a fitness test on December 27 and a similar number on December 28.
Earlier the inquiry released Dr Reggie Perumal, a specialist forensic pathologist, because his evidence would be lengthy.
Chairwoman Thandi Norman said if Perumal continued giving evidence it would inconvenience the inquiry. Perumal would continue to give evidence in September.
Department of health lawyer Thulani Khuzwayo had indicated that he would not be able to cross-examine Perumal as he only got his report on Tuesday.
Perumal started giving evidence on Tuesday afternoon after University of Cape Town expert, Timothy Noakes.
Noakes was not cross-examined because Khuzwayo told the inquiry he needed to take instructions on his evidence.
Dr Morgan Govender of Grey's Hospital briefly testified on Wednesday about Sanele Ngcobo, a participant who was found with a 13cm wound on his neck after participating in the fitness test.
Govender described Ngcobo's wound as long, jagged and deep.
She said it was oozing and there was blood spurting out of it.
“It was a deep wound which extended to the base of the tongue,” Govender said.
Govender said Ngcobo died from blood loss. He is thought to have killed himself after failing the fitness test.
The inquiry continues.
Sapa