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49 fatalities reported in S. African mining sector this year

Xinhua, July 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

A total of 49 fatalities have been reported in the South African mining sector since the beginning of this year, compared to 42 in the same period last year, Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane said on Friday.

"This is a serious setback for the sector, which recorded its lowest ever fatalities in 2015. We should not place value on profits over the lives of workers," Zwane said at a health and safety meeting with the management at Sibanye Gold's Driefontein operation in Mpumalanga Province.

Sibanye Gold was accounting for 10 of the fatalities this year.

It was regrettable that the company, which was the best performer in the gold sector in 2015, was now leading with fatalities thus far in 2016, Zwane said.

Zwane called for extraordinary measures to be taken to stem fatalities in the sector.

"While we are aware of the endeavours being made by the industry, we remain concerned about the safety performance of our mines," the minister said.

This year, the gold and platinum companies have recorded 20 and 17 deaths respectively to date. The other fatalities were recorded by coal and other mineral companies.

The Department of Mineral Resources is continuing to strengthen enforcement compliance at mines, and has added 38 inspectors this year to enhance enforcement.

The department, together with stakeholders, will host the Mine Health and Safety Tripartite Summit before the end of this year, in an effort to review progress made thus far to achieve the goal of zero harm. Endit