The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it has been excluded from the investigation into the deaths of seven miners at the Hernic Ferrochrome mine at Brits on Tuesday.
The company is unwilling to engage with the union on details of the disaster, NUM spokesperson Moferefere Lekorotsoana said in a statement on Wednesday.
”The refusal by the company to let us participate as an interested party, as per the Mine Health and Safety Act, is an indication that they would rather deal with weak unions as a way of hiding the cause of the disaster,” Lekorotsoana said.
The NUM said the seven workers drowned at about 1pm on Tuesday when an underground water pipe burst because of an unclosed valve. Four other workers managed to escape.
The NUM plans to contact the families of the dead workers to ensure their legal representation. The union also intends to continue its engagement with the company.
A date for an inquiry into the accident has been set for February 15.
The union had contacted the Department of Minerals and Energy, indicating that it will be party to the whole process until its conclusion.
”This matter has been accepted”, said Eric Gcilitshana, NUM secretary for health and safety.
”Companies like Hernic Ferrochrome should not be let off the hook because of the fact that they are dealing with weak and sweetheart unions that lack knowledge and expertise on matters of health and safety,” the NUM said. — Sapa