SA workers demand tougher safety laws

Workers are calling for tougher safety laws to protect them from death and injury in the workplace. South Africa's celebration of World Health and Safety Day in Port Elizabeth was marred by the all-too recent memory of the 14 miners who died over just two days in the past two weeks.

Occupational fatalities and serious injuries have increased in the country over the past 12 months.

Remembering fallen comrades cast a pall of gloom over what was supposed to have been a celebration of safer working conditions.

Workers are not convinced that the workplace has become safer in recent years and government is also angry at the recent deaths and at the increase in accidents.