South Africa: Gas Leak Lands 24 Chicken Factory Workers in Hospital

What the report says

Twenty-four workers at Festive Chicken in Olifantsfontein, Ekurhuleni, were taken to hospital after an ammonia leak at the factory, according to the report distributed by AllAfrica from Scrolla. The incident happened on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, after a pressure valve reportedly failed during maintenance work and allowed the gas to escape. Workers were said to have had trouble breathing, prompting an emergency response.

Ekurhuleni emergency services said firefighters found elevated ammonia levels inside the plant and called for medical assistance. Paramedics treated workers at the scene before transporting all 24 patients to nearby hospitals through ER24 and Gauteng Provincial Government emergency medical services. Officials later said the air quality had returned to safe levels and employees were allowed back into the facility.

The article said the factory’s engineering manager recorded ammonia at 222 parts per million, which is well above common workplace safety limits. Ammonia is used in cooling systems and can irritate or damage the respiratory system when inhaled. The report said affected workers could need days or weeks to recover depending on the severity of their exposure, while some may require longer treatment if lung injury is serious. Questions remained about the extent of the workers’ injuries and whether the faulty valve had been repaired.