The Department of Mineral Resources is continuing engagements with platinum mining companies in North West province to ensure that safety is improved.
Mine safety is of serious concern to workers, their families and society at large. Government has passed health and safety legislation in order to prevent ill health, injuries and deaths at mines.
Significant gains have been made in improving safety over a number of years. However, recent accidents in platinum mines are eroding the hard earned gains which have been made over time and all indications are that these accidents are preventable.
"Government is determined to ensure that safety measures in South Africa's mines are improved and we will not compromise on achieving that objective," said the Chief Inspector of Mines, Thabo Gazi.
Regional inspectors are working with employers and trade unions to address the specific challenges in their areas. Mine health and safety inspectors are duty bound to issue corrective orders to mines when they encounter non-compliance or life threatening conditions.
Mines then either comply or they are entitled to appeal as stipulated in the Mine Health and Safety Act in cases where they feel that the actions of field inspectors are unfair or unreasonable.
It is regrettable that some mining companies have chosen not to follow due process.
"Following the recent spate of accidents in the platinum sector, we have had constructive discussions with companies and we will continue to engage with both business and labour on how we can improve on safety.
"These measures are aimed at saving lives and no amount of posturing by individual companies will sway us," Gazi said, urging mining companies to cooperate with government's efforts to prevent injuries and fatalities.
Following yesterday's (Monday's) meeting in Pretoria between the department, platinum mining companies operating in North West and representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), it was agreed that the companies would review their mining methods and to report to the department on what measures they would implement to improve safety.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Jeremy Michaels
Cell: 082 772 1122
Tel: 012 444 3242
E-mail: jeremy.michaels@dmr.gov.za
Government will not compromise on mine safety
