‘Mines put lives of workers on line’

The Economic Freedom Fighters in Limpopo (EFF) wants all mines in the province closed in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“We are disturbed by the mining sector in Sekhukhune, which took the region from zero to the epicentre level of Covid-19 in Limpopo,” EFF provincial chair Jossey Buthane said yesterday.

“Mining companies controlled by white monopoly capital continued to put the lives of workers in danger by forcing them to go to work in the midst of the raging Covid-19 in pursuit of profit.”

He said the EFF had warned the region about the danger.

“We warned them and they did not listen. Their arrogance has now led us to where we are in relation to Covid-19 in Limpopo. It is a pity that it is not the mine bosses that get infected because they are not in the shafts, but our black people...”

Buthane said they demand that Marula Mine in Fetakgomo Tubatse be closed with full benefits for workers, like any other institution with high infection rates.

The region, which has 28 mining houses, surprised many recently when one of its mines, Marula Platinum, registered 13 Covid-19 cases.

The workers had just returned to work following the relaxation of some of the regulations.

About 3 300 mineworkers were called to return to work between 17 and 20 April when they were screened and tested for the virus. Of 130 employees screened on 4 May, 13 tested positive.

The EFF repeated its call for the banning of the sale of alcohol.

Buthane said several cases of gender-based violence, road carnage and contact crimes in general had been reported in the country within 24 hours of the opening liquor outlets.

“We reiterate that the premature lifting of the ban was not in the best interest of the majority of the people” he said.