Durban — eThekwini Municipality Mayor Obed Mlaba has called upon industries in Durban to employ more proactive measures to ensure the safety of workers.

Mayor Mlaba was speaking after he and other senior government officials and business leaders visited the Assmang FerroManganese Smelter in Cato Ridge this week, where five workers died in a massive explosion on Sunday.

"It is disturbing that we continue to have such disasters, more proactive measures are clearly needed from industry owners to ensure the safety of workers," said Mr Mlaba.

He said government needed a firmer commitment from industries that workers' lives would in future not be compromised.

Mr Mlaba further noted that a similar incident had occurred last year when a fire broke out at an Engen refinery on the South Durban Basin.

"While that incident was without any injuries, it sent out a message that we should all play our part in ensuring the safety of workers, it can't be done by government alone."

Mr Mlaba concurred with Chairperson of African Rainbow Minerals, Patrice Motsepe who said that workers' lives could not be sacrificed "in the name of profit or making money."

African Rainbow Minerals is a 50 percent shareholder in Assmang.

A statement released by the Department of Labour suggested that Sunday's explosion at Assmang was caused by water leakage into the furnace.

The impact of the explosion resulted in the wall of the control room facing the furnace to collapse allowing the flames to engulf the entire room.

Department spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said an investigation into the latest accident had been launched and operations on parts of the plant had been halted.

"Once an inquiry has been completed, labour inspectors will submit their report to the director of public prosecutions for a decision on whether to institute criminal charge," said Mr Sigabi.

The recent accident took place at a time when the plant was under inquiry for exposing workers to poisonous fumes in 2007.