The investigation into the mining accident at Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg operations must be rigorous and thorough, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday.
This followed the death of nine mine workers on Monday in a major fall of ground in one of the mechanised panels at 14 Shaft.
”Any evidence of negligence must lead to prosecution and punishment of those responsible and everything must be done to rectify the conditions which led to this fatal accident,” Cosatu said in a statement.
It added that the number of accidents in South Africa’s mines was still ”far too high”.
Cosatu said that safety was not being given the priority it demanded.
”The mining companies must do more to turn their fine words about improving their safety record into action in the mines, so as to end the carnage which is still taking place.”
Trade union Solidarity said in a separate statement that according to the current mortality rate, one mineworker died every second day in South Africa.
The official death toll at South African mines in 2009 now stood at 104, the union added.
”South African mining is a safety nightmare, with accidents just waiting to happen.
”Although accidents repeatedly take place due to reasons beyond the control of mining companies, as in the case of seismic activities, poor safety decisions play a significant part in mining deaths,” deputy general secretary of Solidarity, Dirk Hermann said.
Trade union UASA said it deplored the underground accident at Impala Platinum.
In a statement, it said that its position on health and safety in the workplace was very clear.
”We will not negotiate ‘danger’ and ‘dirty’ money for our members and we make it our business to ensure that our members work under safe and healthy conditions,” spokesperson Franz Stehring said. — Sapa