The Department of Labour is conducting a formal inquiry into the exposure of workers to poisonous fumes at the Assmang manganese plant in Cato Ridge in Durban...Last year, about 50 workers were suspected to be suffering from the crippling condition, manganism...The [inquiry will] establish whether control mechanisms were put in place by the employer who will be held responsible for the exposure as well as the necessary preventative measures to be implemented to prevent a re-occurrence of a similar nature. [The Assmang plant is jointly owned by Assore and African Rainbow Minerals].