BY REGINALD KANYANE
South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in North West reiterated its call to mining houses to uphold the culture of zero harm. The plea follows the death of a miner who died during a rockfall at the Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg last week Tuesday.
Provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said: “We wish to convey our condolences to the family that lost their loved one in the tragic incident. Our communities share their grief as well as the hope and anxiety of the family of the miner who is still unaccounted for.”
SANCO national spokesperson, Jabu Mahlangu said they calling for an investigation into the cause of the rockfall to be sped up.
He added that higher penalties will lead to strict adherence to set occupational health and safety standards and reduce injuries and fatalities.
“Every mining incident reminds us that the Nkambule, Nyarende and Mnisi families are after 105 days still anxiously waiting for the bodies of their loved ones to be recovered at Lilly Mine in Mpumalanga for them to find closure,” he said.
Mahlangu said the delay in recovering the bodies of the three miners is traumatic for families that have not buried their loved ones in dignity.
“It is equally tragic that an investigation into that incident has not commenced for corrective action to be taken to prevent similar incidents at other mines. SANCO’s concern is that the tragedy in Impala Platinum Mine is the second to occur in a short space of time.
“Management says there’s been no communication with the second miner and teams fear the worst. Four miners were killed in an underground fire at the same mine earlier this year,” Mahlangu said.
-TDN
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