The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) welcomes the efforts of the SAPS in the murder of Thembisile Yende. 43 year old David Ngwenya, appeared at the Springs Magistrates court today for the premeditated murder of comrade Yende. 
Yende’s decomposing body was discovered last month locked inside one of the Eskom substation offices in Springs in Ekurhuleni. She had been reported missing for several days before her body was found. The post mortem confirmed that she had been strangled.
As NUMSA we hope that this latest development will be the first step in helping the Yende family to achieve a sense of justice over her murder. We hope that the investigation will result in a successful prosecution of the alleged perpetrator and that the courts will hand down a stiff sentence for this heinous crime. NUMSA remains committed to supporting the family through this terrible ordeal and will continue to offer them whatever assistance that they require.
If the allegations are true that David Ngwenya is a senior supervisor in that region then as part of management, Eskom has no choice but to take full responsibility for Yende’s demise.
We will continue to keep up the pressure on Eskom to improve safety conditions for our members particularly those who are forced to work in isolated places.
Issued by Phakamile Hlubi
NUMSA National Spokesperson (Acting)
0833767725