Speech by Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu at the memorial service for nine Harmony Doornkop Mine workers who died during a mining accident
Family members, relatives, friends and colleagues of the bereaved
Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland Consulates
Chairperson of the Board of Harmony Gold, Mr Patrice Motsepe
Deputy President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Mr Thamsanqa Matosa
Members and Leadership of Solidarity and UASA
Management and staff of Doornkop Mine
Ladies and gentlemen
We have all gathered here in Doornkop Mine today to share the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones during the mining disaster, to offer them our solidarity, support and to help them to make the unbearable loss which they have suffered a little less agonising.
We have come to pay our respects to the following:
Mr Johannes Lebetsang Mopalani
Mr Telang Alexis Makolojane
Mr Amos Simelane
Mr Shadrack Cliford Mkhabela
Mr Fernando Francisco Sambo
Mr Motlalepula Francis Kubutu
Mr Siyabulela Mneno
Mr Lungisani Denzel Gwadiso
Mr Tebello Maketela
Mr Sibusiso Sambo
Mr Kitanyi Simon Twala
These were not just faceless men who worked in our mines. They were your husbands, brothers, fathers, mentors, role models, breadwinners, friends and colleagues.
Their lives can therefore not be lost in vain. We must get to the core of what transpired here and led to this tragic event. As the department which regulates the mining industry, we began an investigation on Tuesday, 4 February 2014, and it is currently in progress. Based on the preliminary findings, the department has issued Doornkop Mine with a Section 54 instruction to stop the mining operations until all the effective measures are implemented in making the mine safe. An inquiry will also be held into this tragedy, to ensure that the accident is not repeated.
We applaud the work done by the proto teams, who rescued the eight mineworkers and still continued with the search of the other missing mineworkers. Whilst acknowledging the difficult circumstances caused by the accident, we are deeply concerned about the duration it took to complete the rescue operations. Hence, the department will be collaborating with our stakeholders to consider effective measures including using appropriate technology which will assist the industry during emergency situations.
I would also like to urge employers and mine management to take more responsibility for the Health and Safety of their workers, not only here at Harmony, but across the industry. Let’s face it, without mineworkers; we will have no mining industry to speak of.We should continue to work together to improve the health and safety of mineworkers in the industry.
It is of great concern that Harmony has had four separate fatal accidents so far this year, with twelve mine workers having lost their lives to date. This is a major setback for the mining industry, which has consistently improved on health and safety in recent years, with the industry recording the lowest deaths ever in 2013. We can therefore not afford to regress as far as the health and safety of workers is concerned.
Harmony has previously committed to implement measures to safeguard the health and safety of workers. The department will continue to work with them to support initiatives in this regard. However, we expect that the company should live up to these commitments and ensure they do not just look good on paper, but result in the prevention of the loss of life.
Also, an instruction was issued to Harmony to ensure that there is a comprehensive review of the company’s Mine Health and Safety Strategy and Management System as well as auditing of the current measures by independent experts, given the recent accidents at their operations.
It is also of great concern that the gold sector is performing poorly this year, having recorded fourteen deaths to-date. I would like to urge the gold sector to pay more attention to this matter. One death is one too many. A quantum leap in commitment is needed to stem the tide of fatalities and to make our mines safer and healthier.
In this regard, the Chief Inspector of Mines has issued a directive for all the mines to be more vigilante and implement measures which will safeguard the lives of workers. The Department will also monitor compliance and collaborate with all the stakeholders during the ensuing health and safety campaigns.
The mining industry has for decades been the backbone of our economy and a major provider of employment in South Africa. But the benefits of these contributions to development have always been over-shadowed by the continued loss of life, occupational diseases and injuries.
Accidents still occur despite the advances in technology and the immense research that has been conducted through various research institutions locally and internationally. We need to effectively implement existing research outcomes whilst continuing with further research to protect the lives of mineworkers.
It is important to also ensure that we learn from the past to prevent recurring accidents and take mining into the future.
We very often compare numbers of fatalities, draw trend lines and do regression analysis etcetera, on the health and safety data – this is important –However it does not speak to the pain and suffering that has to be endured by the relatives of those deceased miners.
The department is expecting greater care on the health and safety of our mine-workers. These are individuals who make huge sacrifices for working under often hostile conditions to earn a better living and to contribute to the profits of the mining companies and the country’s economy.
The Department of Mineral Resources has been intolerant on mines which were not complying with the legal provisions.Hence, the department intensified the use of Section 54 of the Mine Health and Safety Act, amongst other enforcement tools which are at the Department’s disposal. This has led to a huge outcry by the mining industry which has been widely publicised and with some of the companies opting to take the legal route against the department.
We have been stopping unsafe mines as we believe that every worker, like the managers, has a right to return home to his family after every shift at the mine.Hence, the Department has adopted the fundamental stance that if mines cannot mine safely then they should not mine at all until the necessary measures have been put in place to protect the lives of all mineworkers.
The department will continue to prioritise the protection of workers’ lives by issuing Section 54 instructions where necessary. The Mine Health and Safety Act is also being reviewed to ensure that we achieve the goal of “Zero Harm”. The Bill is currently up for public comment.
As I conclude, I would like to once again, on behalf of the Department of Mineral Resources, convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families. We wish you strength during this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you in this time of grief. We share your pain and sorrow.
May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may their deaths not be in vain.
I thank you.
