Comrade Senzeni Zokwana, President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM),
Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi, President of the Chamber of Mines,
Mr Bheki Sibiya, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Mines,
Representatives from UASA and Solidarity,
Members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, this day exactly 52 years ago, a group of Sharpeville residents were planning a peaceful protest against the unjust system of pass laws that had restricted the movement of black people since the 1920s. They had planned to gather the next day, at the local police station, to present themselves for arrest for not carrying their pass books, or the notorious dompas.
Little did they know that, according to insensitive police records, they would have to deal with a group of “young and inexperienced” police constables who would mow down about 69 of these protesters, most of them shot in the back; and who would injure scores of others.
According to Time magazine of 4 April 1960 the police had described the actions of these protestors as “insulting, menacing and provocative” and consequently, as was the custom at the time, the police blamed these brutal actions on what were termed inexperienced and young police officers who had shot these protesters out of fear and panic. It was suggested that this was because the police had lost nine constables in Cato Manor the previous week following protests there. It was in reality a whole system that killed these protesters.
And this system stood culpable to a large degree in another disastrous event at the same time. It was not far away, near Vereeniging, precisely two months previously (21 January 1960), where 435 miners, mainly black, had been killed in the Coalbrook mine disaster at the Clydesdale Colliery. Dangerous and avaricious digging away at the coalfaces on either side finally led to a cataclysmic collapse underground, entombing the men forever. The year before, 1959, had seen no fewer than 732 miners reported as having died in mine incidents – in one year alone!
Those were horrific days for South Africa. Today, in freedom, we bow our heads, and salute those who died in these twin disasters that illustrated, in their different ways, the evils and recklessness of the apartheid system dating back to colonial rule.
I am recalling these events that happened more than five decades ago because they are a reminder that the right to dignity of our people was the very fundamental basis of the liberation struggle. This right to dignity is what prompted President Mandela to sign our Constitution into law near the memorials where these patriots lost their lives. Accordingly the Government has renamed Sharpeville day as Human Rights Day so that this can serve as a reminder of what we defeated in this country in bitter struggle.
So workers in the mining industry, many of whom will join the Sharpeville commemoration tomorrow, also deserve to have the right to life and also should work in conditions where they have the possibility to work and return to their families as other people do. In so doing we will be honouring the legacy of the more than 75 000 people who have lost their lives in mine accidents alone – let alone thousands more who have died in health related accidents - in the more than a century of mining in this country.
Against this background, may I acknowledge the critical role of trade unions, business and the media in raising awareness of health and safety issues as the years have gone by. We used to be, as they would say, a “very strange society”. We are now a caring society where freedom reigns.
General overview on mine health and safety performance
The health and safety of workers in the mining industry remain an issue of grave importance to the Department of Mineral Resources. As government, we have to use the Mine Health and Safety Act and related legislation to take appropriate action to ensure that workers have a safe and dignified work environment; that their right to sanctity of life is protected.
You will recall that in the period before 1994, the mining industry used to report no less than 500 fatalities per annum due to occupational related injuries, however there has been a downward trend since 1994.
One death is one too many. For example there was a total of 123 fatalities in 2011 compared to 127 the previous year. This translates to a marginal improvement of about 3% year on year. However, when we compare the fatality frequency rates per million hours worked between 2010 and 2011, there has been an 8% improvement from 0.12 to 0.11.
The breakdown of these fatalities per commodity of the 2011 figure is as follows: gold (51), platinum (37), coal (12) and other mines (23). In the category of other mines these include diamonds, chrome, copper, iron ore, etc. However, the latest figures for the period 1 January to 12 March 2012 show that fatalities have improved by 19% - from 27 in 2011 to 22 in 2012. The number of mine injuries has reduced by 40% from 667 in 2011 to 403 in 2012.
This is not about the improvement in the statistics, however important that may be; it is a about the fundamental right to life that the mine workers deserve to have. In this regard I have convened this media briefing, which is attended by representatives of the mining industry, to convey my serious concern that despite the marginal improvement, we continue – as a country – to have unacceptably high fatalities in the mining industry.
Statistics suggest that major gold and platinum mines are the main contributors of accidents and the subsequent loss of life. This is regrettable, considering the profit margins that these mines are enjoying, which they should be using to improve their safety performance. In fact, these mines should be in the front ranks of those forces with the appropriate systems and expertise to enhance health and safety.
Specific highlights of 2011
The reduction of fatalities in the gold sector
The spotlight that we are putting on the gold sector does not always mean that, in real terms, the number of fatalities has been on the decline over a specific period. But of late there is evidence that the gold sector has improved somewhat, by 18% from 62 in 2010 to 51 in 2011.
However, it is regrettable that the same cannot be said about the platinum sector where there was a regression in fatalities from 34 during 2010 to 37 in 2011.
Improvement of fall of ground fatalities
Although falls of ground mine related deaths have reduced by about 19% from 47 in 2010 to 38 in 2011, this remains the major contributor to fatalities followed by transport and mining at 37 deaths reported in 2011.
No disaster type accident
For the first time in five years, there has not been a mine disaster accident in 2011 which occurred in the mining sector. A mine disaster accident is a single event that results in the deaths of four or more employees.
Reduction of injuries
The number of mine injuries has reduced by 15% from 3 436 in 2010 to 2 918 in 2011.
Although there has been some improvement on the number of fatalities and injuries, the Department is still greatly concerned about the continued loss of lives at our mines and mainly as a result of repeat accidents.
Health
Also, the lack of significant improvement regarding the health issues, mainly noise induced hearing loss and silicosis diseases, which further predispose miners to tuberculosis (TB), is of major concern. TB has thus remained a challenge in the mining industry and HIV/AIDS has increased the incidence of TB substantially.
The mines are required to submit Annual Medical Reports in terms of the provisions of the Mine Health and Safety Act. It has been deduced from the reports that there were about 4 500 cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis reported by the mines in 2010 and this has not improved from the previous reporting period.
The total number of Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Silicosis occupational diseases reported by the mines during the 2010 period are about 1 200 and 1 700 respectively.
The gold sector continues to report the majority of the occupational diseases compared to the other sectors put together.
The mining sector is encouraged to significantly focus on health matters as there has not been a notable improvement and more employees lose their lives as a result of exposure to health hazards than mine accidents.
Health and Safety Improvement Measures
A number of initiatives have been embarked upon to enhance health and safety in the mining industry. These include the following:
Ministerial Group Audits: These audits commenced during the 2011 festive season and will continue until June 2012, as this is the period that is prone to lapses which lead to mine accidents and deaths.
The audits mainly focus on the effectiveness of control measures that have been put in place to prevent rock fall, rock burst and transport equipment accidents.
The purpose of the audits is also to evaluate mine management systems for preventing exposure of employees to noise and dust (including silica dust) which could result in workers suffering from noise induced hearing loss and silicosis.
As part of the audits, mines’ TB, HIV and AIDS programmes are being evaluated to ensure that there is an improvement. Mine inspectors are also checking whether the mines are complying with the Mining Charter commitments for improving living conditions of employees and conversion of single sex hostels, as it has been determined through research that poor living conditions also exacerbate Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other health and safety matters.
Mine Health and Safety Act Amendment: In addressing poor health and safety issues at mines, we have identified the need to review the Mine Health and Safety Act. This review will strengthen enforcement provisions; reinforce penalties; provide clarity in certain definitions and expressions; and effect certain amendments to ensure consistency with other laws, particularly the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA).
We are currently at the tail end of consultation on this issue and we expect that these amendments will soon be tabled in Cabinet.
Mine Health and Safety Summit: A two-day Summit was held in November 2011 to review the state of health and safety within the mining sector. During the Summit the Government, unions and business curved a concrete plan on addressing mine health and safety issues facing the South African mining sector, which also included TB, HIV and AIDS issues.
The Department in collaboration with unions, business and other relevant stakeholders will monitor the situation to ensure that the Summit commitments and action plans are implemented.
Support of mining industry Health and Safety Improvement Initiatives: The Department will continue to encourage and support effective measures introduced by the mining industry for enhancing health and safety including the Mining Industry Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Learning Hub.
Skills Development: The Department is collaborating with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and our stakeholders through the Mining Qualification Authority (MQA) to improve on skills development. Some of the programmes include issuing 800 bursaries annually at public Higher Education and Training institutions with mining and mineral related faculties; training 40 000 Health and Safety Reps and Shop Stewards over five years using accredited institutions and exploring ways of improving the percentage pass rate for various certificates of competency.
Stakeholder engagements: The Department continuously engages its social partners through MIGDETT, Mine Health and Safety, MQA and bilateral meetings to ensure that mine health and safety in the industry is prioritised.
With regard to business, priority will be on mining companies which have been performing poorly in recent times.
It is the Department’s view that health and safety in the mining industry can also improve significantly if all CEOs of mining companies display more visible leadership regarding health and safety matters. This will also go a long way in demonstrating the value of caring for the mine employees, which we always talk about.
Establishment of a Health Chief Directorate: The new Chief Directorate of Health was established in 2011 and is fully operational. This was in fulfilment of the Ministerial commitments to elevate health issues in the mining sector and ensure that health matters are effectively addressed.
Split of the North-West Regional office: The North West regional office was split into two separate offices to enhance the monitoring and evaluation of the health and safety programmes at the mines. This is also to ensure that the inspectors focus more on the platinum sector in the Rustenburg area, which still remains an area of concern on health and safety.
The split was also necessary as the mines in the North-West province employ about 42% of the total workforce of about 500 000 in the mining sector, and most mines are concentrated around Rustenburg area and the Principal Inspector was stationed in Klerksdorp over 200 km away. A second Principal Inspector was appointed to be in charge and focus on the Rustenburg mines.
There has been a 56% reduction in fatalities in the Rustenburg area since the split of the North-West province.
Stoppage of unsafe mines: The Department will continue with the stance of stopping unsafe working areas or mines in terms of Section 54 of the Mine Health and Safety Act to ensure that employers take appropriate measures that will prevent harm to mine employees.
While Section 54 has had the desired results in terms of improving health and safety in our mines, concerns have been voiced by the industry regarding its implementation. To address this matter, Government and its social partners under the auspices of MIGDETT have established a task team to investigate the industry’s concerns.
Finalisation of a guideline to withdraw or suspend Certificates of Competency: It has been noted from investigations and inquiries that some mine deaths are as a result of gross negligence by holders of Government Certificates of Competency. In order to address the above concern and in line with our current legislation that provides for the suspension or cancellation of Certificates of Competency, we are drafting a guideline that will be finalised in April 2012.
I would like to reiterate our commitment, as a Department, to ensure the growth and development of the mining sector of this country, but it can never be at the expense of people’s lives. The mining industry cannot afford to continue losing lives at the alarming rate we still see prevalent. If the status quo is to change, we need a more radical approach to the persisting challenges.
Be sure of this: The Department will continue to work together with our social partners through our tripartite structures to ensure that there is a significant and sustained improvement in the health and safety of mine employees.
May I take this opportunity to thank the stakeholders for coming today, and I wish them well in the commemorative events of tomorrow.
Finally, let us never, ever, forget the meaning of our past. And let us re-commit ourselves to upholding the dignity and enlightened direction that marked the epochal oath of office of President Nelson Mandela in 1994.
I thank you.
