Rheinmetall Denel Munition reveals identities of colleagues who died in blast

The identities of the 8 Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) employees, who died during a blast last week, have been revealed by RDM management following permission from the families affected.

"The families of those affected were invited to an information session with the Forensic Pathology Service, which took place on Thursday. Once the families had received the information, they gave permission to RDM to share this with the public," CEO Norbert Schulze said in a statement on Thursday.

RDM has confirmed that the staff members are:

- Jason Hartzenberg, aged 22, operator
- Triston Lance David, aged 22, operator
- Thandolwethu Mankayi, aged 27, operator

The manufacturer and supplier of selected munitions and explosive related products for Armed and Police Forces is expected to begin making funeral arrangements and plan tributes to honour colleagues.

"RDM is appealing to the media to give the families the space they need to mourn now that they have received this information," Schulze concluded.

Mourners gathered outside the venue on Tuesday last week to wait for news about loved ones and colleagues who were still unaccounted for.

Also read: 'It's so painful' - loved ones wait for news as officials inspect Denel blast site

State officials, including Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, also visited the site to inspect the scene and offer condolences to the families of the victims.

Three investigations into the cause of the blast are ongoing.