Too many mine deaths

THE Department of Mineral Resources says it will meet Sibanye-Stillwater management to address the rise in deaths of mineworkers.

The department told this to Parliament’s portfolio committee on mineral resources after rescuers had found a fourth body at Kloof mine, south-west of Joburg yesterday.

Director-general Thabo Mokoena said: “We have been on site with the acting chief inspector of mines, who is at Sibanye. We are looking at these issues holistically.

“The minister, together with the department, will be having a meeting this week with Sibanye to see how we can deal with this challenge”.

The mine has had the most fatalities since the beginning of this year, with recent incidents bringing the number to 19.

Committee chairperson Sahlulele Luzipo called for the department to hold shareholders and senior management accountable for the deaths.

“I would like to know what shareholders of Sibanye say when they get their money, when that money is done at the back of dead mineworkers. It can’t be normal that people die in this fashion,” said Luzipo.

Mokoena assured the committee that the department would get to the bottom of the matter, and hold those in the wrong accountable.

“The department will make sure that we do everything in our power to ensure that there is compliance.

“In terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act, section 23 of the act is very specific that if employees foresee that they will be exposed to danger, they have a right to refuse to go underground or be exposed to whatever dangerous place. These are the things we will have conversations about,” said Mokoena.

Unions have also called on Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to act decisively against mining houses that fail to ensure the safety of staff.