The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) wishes to express its shock at the death of Lucia Thembisile Yende. Yende was an Eskom employee and a member of NUMSA. The 30 year old was a Learner Artisan in Eskom from December 2012 and was a full time employee of Eskom from December 2015.  
She went missing on the 17th May 2017 and her body was found on the 29th May 2017,effectively two weeks after she was reported missing. NUMSA is truly shaken by the circumstances surrounding Yende’s death. Her body was found locked in her office.
We call on Eskom and the South African Police Services to leave no stone unturned in establishing the circumstances surrounding her death. We hope the investigation will shed light on whether Eskom was indeed negligent in the manner in which the death of our member was handled. Secondly, adding to our dismay as a union is that a previous ‘investigation’ by Eskom yielded nothing and it would seem the employer got relaxed because he saw her vehicle in the car park.
Even now our members are disturbed to see messages broadcast by Eskom internally of her passing, when there were no messages broadcast about her disappearance. We also want answers on why the surveillance cameras were not operating at the time of her untimely death.
NUMSA wishes to extend its heartfelt condolences to Yende’s family. She leaves behind her 6 year old son and an extended family in Pieterboth near Springs. We are extremely saddened that our member may be another casualty in the war against women and children which seems to be gripping this country.
Issued by Irvin Jim
NUMSA General Secretary
For interviews please contact:
Phakamile Hlubi
Acting NUMSA spokesperson
083 376 7725