Search for trapped miner continues
Winch operator killed after early morning tremors
Efforts to rescue a miner still trapped underground after two earth tremors at the weekend are continuing at AngloGold Ashanti Mponeng Mine in Carletonville, West Rand.
A miner was killed and another is in hospital after they were injured during the tremors which happened 3.7km apart at 4.11am and 6.35am on Saturday.
Mine management described the event as unusual.
Francois Naudé‚ senior vice president at West Wits AngloGold Ashanti‚ said operations had been halted while rescue operation continued in the world’s deepest gold mine. Mponeng is 3.8km deep.
“There are recovery operations currently taking place to rescue the second employee. The employee who passed away was a winch operator. The injured employee is recovering well in hospital.
“We are 100% sure that there is only one person we are still searching for. The search is being conducted by mine rescue services. We have our own emergency crew. We have various other rescue teams from neighbouring mines Naudé said.
Mine management has made contact with the family of the deceased. All union representatives‚ the department of mineral resources as well as the police have been alerted about the incident. assisting,”
“We have gone over a year without losing anyone. We’ve just recorded two million fatality-free shifts‚ a first in the history of this mine.” Naudé said.
Naudé added that the first earth tremor was 1.2 magnitude and the second one was 2 magnitude.
“The environment that we are working in after the seismic events is challenging‚” Naudé added.
Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) expressed shock at the incident and sent its condolences to the family of the dead worker.
“Amcu has raised serious concerns about why the mining bosses did not evacuate the teams after the first seismic event‚ as it is well-known that these tremors often come in pairs,” the union said in an official statement.
“Amcu previously criticised mines for their apparent focus on profits over safety. The fact of the matter is that mining has become a very perilous working environment ...
“It seems that these mines have quite literally become a death trap for workers who risk their lives on a daily basis for the profits of mining houses‚” the statement continued.
The union appealed to the department of mineral resources to hold a commission of inquiry into the causes of deaths in the mining sector.