Twenty-four workers have been hospitalised after an ammonia leak at Festive Chicken in Olifantsfontein, Ekurhuleni, left several employees suffering from respiratory distress.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the facility situated on 17 Industria Road.
The City of Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) said it dispatched firefighters from the Olifantsfontein Fire Station after receiving a report through its Life-Threatening Call Centre.
DEMS spokesperson Eric Maloka said firefighters found several employees experiencing respiratory distress upon arrival and immediately requested medical assistance.
Paramedics treated the affected workers at the scene before 24 patients were transported to nearby hospitals by ER24 and Gauteng Provincial Government emergency medical services for further treatment.
According to Maloka, preliminary information indicated that routine maintenance work had been underway at the facility since approximately 6am.
However, at around 4.23pm, a pressure-release valve reportedly experienced a technical failure, resulting in employees inhaling ammonia fumes.
All personnel were immediately evacuated from the plant as a precautionary measure.
Maloka said the facility's engineering manager reported that the highest ammonia concentration recorded during testing was 222 parts per million (ppm).
Further testing conducted at approximately 7.45pm showed that ammonia levels had dropped to zero.
Following the emergency response and confirmation that ammonia levels had returned to zero, employees were given permission to return to work, Maloka said.
Based on reporting by IOL News