The Mercury

SA MINING INDUSTRY WANTS ITS FOREIGN WORKERS BACK

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SOUTH Africa’s mining industry is in talks with the government about allowing foreign miners to return to work, the Minerals Council said yesterday, as output ramps up after the easing of coronaviru­s lockdown restrictio­ns. Mines in South Africa, the world’s biggest producer of platinum and chrome and a major gold and diamond producer, have been allowed to run at full capacity since Monday after a temporary halt since March when a nationwide lockdown began. The industry body, the Minerals Council, said it had been requested by members to ask the Health Department to allow the return of foreign mineworker­s, who make up about 10 percent of South Africa’s mining workforce. The industry had so far requested the return of about 9 500 workers, mostly from Mozambique and Lesotho, under strict conditions that included screening them before they leave their home countries and a 14-day quarantine in South Africa, the council said. “People who fail the screening tests will not be allowed to come to South Africa,” said the council’s senior executive for environmen­t, health and legacies, Nikisi Lesufi. South Africa has more than 37 000 confirmed coronaviru­s cases, with 527 cases in the mining industry. The health ministry did not immediatel­y respond to requests for comment. | Reuters

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