The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was saddened by Friday’s news of the deaths of another three mineworkers.
”We are very sore, I don’t have words to describe how we feel. We are honestly very shocked,” said NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka.
One mineworker died at AngloGold Ashanti’s Savuka mine near Carletonville, west of Johannesburg, early on Friday, and two were found dead at East Rand Proprietary Mines’ (ERPM) Boksburg operations.
At Savuka, a winch driver was killed by his own machine, said spokesperson Alan Fine.
At ERPM, spokesperson James Duncan said two employees conducting routine water-level measurements at the number-24 level of the south-west vertical shaft were found dead on Friday morning.
He said the NUM’s suggestions that a transportation ”cage” had plunged to the ground in the shaft, which was used only for water pumping, was speculation as the cause of their deaths was not yet clear.
Both mines have safety programmes to reduce fatalities and accidents, and record lost production and losses as a result of Department of Minerals and Energy notices that prohibit work until the sites have been declared safe.
A number of mine safety bodies also exist, like the Mine Health and Safety Council, which provides safety research and advice and lobbies for safer working conditions.
However, Seshoka said the mine owners need a ”change in attitude” from believing that accidents are a normal part of mining.
He called for the Leon commission’s safety recommendations to be implemented and welcomed the Health and Safety Amendment Bill, whose provisions include keeping a record of any training an employee receives, the issuing of safety permits, and outlining employer responsibility.
Seshoka also noted that the mining industry is under pressure after a worldwide commodity boom that saw companies ”doing all they can” to get their people underground to work, as well as attempts to recoup losses incurred during the nationwide electricity crisis at the beginning of the year.
The mineworkers’ names were not released. Both accidents will be investigated by a mining safety inspector. — Sapa