accident
21 June 2006
Cape Town - The Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, MP,
today expressed regret at the loss of yet another life due to an accident at
one of South Africaâs mines.
âIt is with great sadness and regret that the country has today experienced
the loss of a life on the Goldfields owned Beatrix Number three shaft in
Welkom. This is of course the loss of one life too much and is therefore not at
all desirable.
âOfficials from the regional office of the Department will be sent to the
venue tomorrow, 22 June, to conduct an in loco investigation of todayâs
occurrence. This investigation will then be followed by a public investigation
in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act,â Minister Sonjica said.
Minister Sonjica said that the enquiry would look in to different issues
including whether there was sufficient training for the deceased and others and
whether there was sufficient supervision at the time of the incident.
The information available at the moment points to the accident having
happened during the course of destroying old explosives on surface.
Minister Sonjica also said; âThe investigation will further assist us to
know whether everything was done to ensure the safety of the deceased and
possibly any other person who could have been in the vicinity of the incident.
We need to collate information and thereby establish the root cause of the
accident.
âWhatever steps then need to be taken will be informed by the findings of
such an investigation and its recommendations.â
âThe Department of Minerals and Energy would like to express its condolences
to the family of the deceased and wish that it will be healed and therefore
come out of this unfortunate incident even stronger,â Minister Sonjica
concluded.
Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 885 8317
Issued by: Ministry of Minerals and Energy
21 June 2006
