WALVIS BAY – A young chef from Walvis Bay says she was fired from her job after she got shocked by an electrical pot that left her with several medical complications, including seizures.
The 22-year-old Theresia Jeremia was employed at Protea Superspar Walvis Bay since January last year, but was dismissed from her job in January this year. The company claims that she did not notify them of being hospitalised and booked off from work.
The incident was also never reported to the labour ministry, who earlier this week told New Era that they only learned about it when Jeremia approached them for assistance after she had not been paid her December wages.
Although she does not have any visible scars, Jeremia said since the incident, she has been suffering from seizures, uncontrollable headaches and can barely use the hand where the electrical shock occurred.
On top of that, she was declared medically unfit by state doctors in Windhoek after having undergone a series of tests since last year.
According to the medical report seen by New Era, her nervous system and mental health have been affected, and her disability will increase.
Narrating her ordeal, Jeremia said she was shocked by water that spilled over from a soup pot container. They usually put a little water in the container before they placed the soup pot into it.
According to her, an employee who was newly transferred to the kitchen was handling the soup container that fateful morning.
“She poured too much water, and it spilled over. I realised that she was in danger, and rushed to push her out of the way. However, the water had already reached the electrical plug on the floor and shocked me,” she explained.
Jeremia said the force was so strong that it threw her to the ground, where she hit her head on the floor.
She allegedly stood up after a while and asked one of the colleagues to tie her arm, but the colleague told her to go to the office.
“My manager sent someone to make me sugar water, but it made my condition worse, and she took me to hospital.
She says the manager drove her to the Walvis Bay state hospital, gave her money, and dropped her off in the parking lot.
“She just left me there and went back to work. None of them even called to find out how I was doing, until today. Even the nurses questioned why I was sent alone, despite being injured at work”.
Jeremia added that she has had four seizures so far, some of which happened at work. As a result, she was taken to a private doctor.
The doctor, however, refused to examine her or complete any paperwork for workman’s compensation as she was not registered with the Social Security Commission.
Her health has also not been the same as she has been admitted at least three times into hospital.
“I am not the same person anymore and, sadly, my employer failed me during my worst experience as a young woman. I was healthy without any medical conditions, but to think my first job would leave me this damaged,” Jeremia lamented.
She has given sick notes to the company twice, although they claim she did not notify them.
‘Pre-existing conditions’
However, Protea Spar manager Francois Jooste told New Era that Jeremia did not show up for work, nor were they notified that she has been sick or booked off.
“That is why our system showed that she was absent for 56 days. It seems like you know more about her condition than we do,” he stated.
Jooste also denied that her current medical condition is due to the electrical injury, as they have it on record that she suffers from arthritis.
Spar’s labour adviser August /Awaseb on Monday told New Era that they will not accept the current medical report or tests conducted by the State, and had requested for an independent medical report.
“This is our stance, and we can only act on it once we receive an independently conducted medical report,” he said.
New Era also understands that the incident was never investigated, and that staff were only questioned after the interview with New Era.
edeklerk@nepc.com.na