ANC Statement: Mining Authorities Must Step Up Efforts at Mine Safety
20 September 2017
The African National Congress has noted with grave concern reports of the death of two miners at the Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg in the North West province yesterday, 19 September 2017. This tragic incident follows the death of five mine workers at Kusasalethu mine in Carltonville earlier this month and the growing number of workers losing their lives in our country’s mines. It cannot be that our mines have become death traps for workers and a job in the mining industry carries with it major risk on the worker’s life.
The mining industry remains a dominant and very important sector of our economy, built - as it is - on the back of the working class who for decades have endured dangerous and exploitative conditions. It has been and remains an unambiguous objective of the ANC that we create safe and decent working conditions for mine workers. The avoidable deaths reported in the industry fly in the face of this objective and require drastic action by all stakeholders to eliminate fatalities and injuries.
Accordingly, the ANC calls on mining authorities and other stakeholders to employ all measures necessary to decisively deal with the safety challenges in the mining industry. Government is further called upon to use all means at its disposal to pressure the industry to correct the defects and adopt all necessary safeguards deal to these senseless deaths. Fatalities and injuries must be eliminated within the timeframes agreed by the industry; one death of a mine worker is one death too many.
The African National Congress expresses its sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones from these tragic incidents in our mines. Government, the mining companies concerned and the industry as a whole, are expected to give support and comfort to the bereaved families during these difficult times.
Issued by the African National Congress
Enquiries
Zizi Kodwa 082 330 4910
National Spokesperson
Khusela Sangoni 072 854 5707
National Communications Manager
The African National Congress has noted with grave concern reports of the death of two miners at the Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg in the North West province yesterday, 19 September 2017. This tragic incident follows the death of five mine workers at Kusasalethu mine in Carltonville earlier this month and the growing number of workers losing their lives in our country’s mines. It cannot be that our mines have become death traps for workers and a job in the mining industry carries with it major risk on the worker’s life.
The mining industry remains a dominant and very important sector of our economy, built - as it is - on the back of the working class who for decades have endured dangerous and exploitative conditions. It has been and remains an unambiguous objective of the ANC that we create safe and decent working conditions for mine workers. The avoidable deaths reported in the industry fly in the face of this objective and require drastic action by all stakeholders to eliminate fatalities and injuries.
Accordingly, the ANC calls on mining authorities and other stakeholders to employ all measures necessary to decisively deal with the safety challenges in the mining industry. Government is further called upon to use all means at its disposal to pressure the industry to correct the defects and adopt all necessary safeguards deal to these senseless deaths. Fatalities and injuries must be eliminated within the timeframes agreed by the industry; one death of a mine worker is one death too many.
The African National Congress expresses its sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones from these tragic incidents in our mines. Government, the mining companies concerned and the industry as a whole, are expected to give support and comfort to the bereaved families during these difficult times.
Issued by the African National Congress
Enquiries
Zizi Kodwa 082 330 4910
National Spokesperson
Khusela Sangoni 072 854 5707
National Communications Manager
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