Monday, July 27, 2009

Mine Deaths A National Disgrace, Says COSATU Secretary General

JOHANNESBURG 24 July 2009 Sapa

MINE DEATHS A NATIONAL DISGRACE: VAVI

The number of deaths in South African mines was a national
disgrace, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary
Zwelinzima Vavi said on Friday.

"Urgent action is needed to put an end to this carnage," Vavi
told a memorial service for nine mineworkers who died on Monday at
Impala Platinum's Rustenburg mine.

The company directors must be held "personally accountable" for
the deaths, he said, adding that should an investigation find
negligence or incompetence the directors should be prosecuted and
punished if found guilty.

"Such fatalities are personal tragedies for bereaved families
and friends, but they are also a national disgrace.

"The number of accidents in our mines is still far too high.
Between 1997 and 2007, the South African mining industry had an
appalling average of 244 work-related deaths per year reported."

He said safety was not prioritised and mining houses should do
more to end the many fatalities.

The general secretary said Cosatu supported Labour Minister
Membathisi Mdladlana's call for all health and safety laws to be
rigidly enforced to protect workers from occupational hazards.

"Daily we risk our lives to dig the coal, gold and platinum out
of the earth, but never see any of the fabulous profits that our
employers make," Vavi said, which is why the union federation
supported the call for nationalising the mines .

"We want an efficient industry that continues to create wealth
for the nation but uses the profits to pay workers a living wage,
pays taxes to improve the lives of the workers and the poor, in
conditions that are safe, healthy and environmentally friendly."

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Editor,
After reading your article on the plight of fellow mankind,I wish to share some pointers. I do not know how many more years is the coal/gold/platinum resources is going to last.What can be done now is organise work improvement team.Discuss about PPE; install detectors system for any dangerous gases inside the mine.Any possibility of flood entering the mine? Plan and practice emergency evacuation drill to rescue any casualty. I hope you can implement recommendations. You have such a large natural resource pool. Manage your wealth, bring more good years to your people.Ultimately, they are the one who help you to harvest the crude wealth, so it is only fair to share the wealth created.Betterment of mankind livelihood would yield great merits for your journey to heaven.If that is your goal!Go on enjoy and live life,for it is so beautiful! Concerned, Ricky with love from Singapore.

Unknown said...

go to www.safetyonline.com many hints there.