The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have lashed out at AngloGold following the death of two miners at TauTona mine near Carletonville on Wednesday morning.
Two miners were also injured in the accident.
The two employees died when a vertical transport conveyance — similar to a lift — moved some distance while they were exiting. The conveyances are used to transport employees between the surface and the working places underground.
Wednesday’s accident follows closely on last Thursday’s accident in which two miners were killed at AngloGold’s Mponeng mine, also near Carletonville. In January, three miners died and five were injured after a rockburst at an AngloGold mine near Carletonville.
Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said on Wednesday the federation fully supported NUM in its condemnation of AngloGold, which, it said was ”determined to spearhead a culture of unsafe mines”.
”The number of fatal accidents in the mines is still at a totally unacceptable level.”
Craven said Cosatu also backed NUM’s demand that the company maintain and service its machinery, particularly ones that carried people.
Cosatu also demanded that AngloGold and government safety inspectors, together with the NUM, ensure that there is an urgent investigation to establish the cause of the accidents and take all measures necessary to ensure there is no repetition.
NUM spokesperson Moferefere Lekorotsoana said family members and colleagues of the workers killed in Mponeng had not yet buried their loved ones.
”Then AngloGold rubs salt into these wounds that are being nursed by killing two more workers. The manner in which this company is having accidents in the Carletonville area alone, within such a short term, gives us the impression that they believe they have the right to kill and maim mineworkers, then hide behind press statement clichés of the company will hold a full investigation into the cause of the accident.”
Lekorotsoana said it was the company’s responsibility to maintain and service their machinery, particularly one that carried people. Both parties have conveyed their condolences to the families and colleagues of the workers killed.
The names of the miners will be released once their next of kin have been informed. – Sapa