Deaths of miners cause for concern

It is sad to learn of the deaths of six copper mineworkers who were trapped underground at Palabora Mining Company in Phalaborwa, Limpopo.

This follows the death of another coal mineworker in the industry in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, due to a rock fall. We have also witnessed the deaths of a number of other mineworkers at Sibanye-Stillwater in Driefontein, also in Mpumalanga.

This raises the safety concern in mines.

Are South African mines adhering to safety standards? Are employees trained and competent to identify hazards? Are they covered by the Mine Health And Safety Act in terms of sections 22 and 23?

Above all, do we have effective safety systems in place that promote the safety of our employees?

Is the Department of Mineral Resources coming to the fore in terms of digging deep to root out the cause of all these occupational injuries and fatalities before taking the mining companies to task?

You cannot afford to go to work and never know if you will go back to your family still alive. No parent, spouse or children would like to lose a loved one in this cruel manner.

Nobody deserves to die on duty. One death is just one too many. We need to put an end to this. Together – the employers, employees, trade unions and the government through the Department of Mineral Resources and every stakeholder – we can help eradicate this unfortunate state of things.

Godfrey Malibe, Acornhoek