Three miners have died in the past two days from separate accidents at AngloGold Ashanti, Anglo Platinum and Harmony Gold mines, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday.
A mine worker died at the Tau Tona mine near Carletonville at about 1am on Thursday after being buried alive, AngloGold Ashanti said in a statement.
”A miner was killed in a fall of ground while securing a working place in a haulage. The accident occurred at just after 1am on 94 level. His body is being recovered.”
The NUM said a second miner died at Harmony Gold’s Elandsrand Mine after a fall of ground, also on Thursday morning.
The third miner died in hospital on Wednesday following an accident at an Anglo Platinum mine in Townlands late last month.
Meanwhile, more than 3 000 mineworkers will observe a day of mourning on Thursday following the death of a worker at AngloGold’s Savuka mine a week ago.
”The NUM is shocked that while those whose hands stink of workers’ blood smile all the way to the bank, hundred of thousands of breadwinners’ dependants are left with no food on their table.
”It is with this in mind that the NUM urges the DME [Department of Minerals and Energy] to release the safety audit report as a matter of urgency and to take serious steps against these companies that seem to be competing to kill mineworkers.” — Sapa