Two mineworkers die at Sibanye

THE National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said that it was saddened that two mineworkers who were trapped underground at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Kloof mine had died.

The two workers were trapped underground yesterday at Kloof ’s Ikamva 4 Shaft in Johannesburg following a fall of ground, possibly linked to a nearby seismic event, at around 1.30am.

Rescue personnel were immediately deployed and efforts were made to locate and free them.

NUM national spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu said the union was informed that two workers were trapped underground as a result of a big rock that pressed them.

One worker was rescued at 9.25am yesterday, but was declared dead at 10.17am.

At the time, the NUM was still awaiting an updated report from paramedics on the health status of the second worker after the first body was recovered, although it was subsequently confirmed that both workers had died.

“We are deeply worried about the safety of workers and we are continuing to witness these shocking fatalities. We sell our labour, not our lives, lungs and limbs. One death is one death too many, as we talk about breadwinners.”

Sibanye confirmed the death of the two workers. Operations in the affected area have been suspended pending an investigation into the incident by Sibanye management, the Department of Mineral Resources and other relevant stakeholders. – African News Agency (ANA)