21 April 2020

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape Province warmly welcomes the closure of the Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) pharmaceutical company based in Epping, Cape Town. The closure of GSK follows calls made by the Party following its interaction with the workers who felt their lives were in danger of the deadly COVID-19. It is against this background that the SACP commends the department for the timeous response and swift action to conducting an inspection following the outbreak of COVID-19 where 73 workers tested positive and order the company to put its production into a halt with immediate effect.

Therefore, the SACP calls on the workers in the company to unite against all odds because they have nothing to lose but their chains. The Party will be on their side and see to it that they receive their full wages and professional counselling.

Further, the SACP would like to maintain its call to the Department of Health in the province to embark on an aggressive tracing of all the contacts that may be infected by workers from GSK.

Furthermore, the SACP maintains its call that GSK Pharmaceutical Company should be held liable for the spread of the deadly corona virus in the company. In our view, it does appear that the company was reckless for allowing production to take place despite some workers having tested positive for COVID-19.

Contact:

Benson Ngqentsu
SACP Provincial Secretary
Mobile : +2782 796 6400

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY | SACP
EST. 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA | CPSA

Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo
Central Committee Member: Head of Media & Communications

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