[miningmx.com] — MINES Minister Susan Shabangu has defended her
department’s tough action on mine safety, saying the increase in issued Section 54
directives – orders to cease mining on safety grounds – has had “the desired results’.
Briefing a press conference on health and safety in the mining industry on Tuesday,
Shabangu shrugged off criticism – levelled from especially the platinum sector – that
her inspectors were acting rashly when issuing Section 54 notices.
“Section 54 [directives] has no intention of affecting the mining industry in a negative
way,’ she said. “It is supposed to improve safety. Safe mining is profitable mining. If
miners act responsible then Section 54 will be a piece of legislation that harms no
one.’
Platinum miners have blamed South Africa’s decline in PGM output during 2011 largely
on an increase in safety stoppages, after a second Principal Inspector was appointed
in the North West. According to data issued earlier in March by Stats SA, PGM
production was lower 19.5% year-on-year in January.
“This [the split in the North West office] is to ensure that the inspectors focus more
on the platinum sector in the Rustenburg area, which still remains an area of concern
on health and safety,’ Shabangu said, also singling out the sector for recording an
increase in mining fatalities during 2011, when the mining industry as a whole
showed a decline.
She said the split was also necessary as mines in the North West employ about 42%
of South Africa’s total mining workforce of 500,000, adding there has been a 56%
decline in fatalities since the Rustenburg office was opened.
“The department will continue with the stance of stopping unsafe working areas or
mines in terms of Section 54 of the Mine Health and Safety Act to ensure that
employers take appropriate measures that will prevent harm to mine employees.’
She also insinuated that Northam Platinum, which last week won an interim interdict
in the Labour Court to have a stoppage order overturned, was acting in bad faith
given that an industry task team was established to investigate industry concerns
over unfair Section 54 closures.
“When you have a partner sending you an SMS on a Sunday saying it’s going to court
the next day, you have to ask yourself what is the intention,’ Shabangu said, adding
she would only comment on the merits of Northam’s case once the legal process has
taken its course. The DMR has until March 27 to submit a response to Northam’s
application.
Bheki Sibiya, CEO of the Chamber of Mines, said the body “understands Northam’s
position’, but that it preferred pursuing the issue through the task team. “We cannot
prevent members from following their rights,’ he said.
Overall, 123 fatalities were recorded during 2011, compared to 127 in 2010. Among
these, gold accounted for 51 deaths (62 in 2010), platinum 37 (34 in 2010) and coal
12 and “other’ mines for 23.
Fall-of-ground fatalities remain the major contributor to deaths, accounting for 38
lives (47 in 2010).
Also, for the first time in five years, there has not been a mine disaster accident in
2011. A mine disaster accident is a single event that results in the deaths of four or
more employees. The country also recorded a reduction in the number of injuries,
totalling 2,918 in 2011, down 15% from 2010’s 3,436.
