[miningmx.com] — GOVERNMENT expects heads to roll should
negligence have been the cause of last week’s disaster at Gold Fields’ KDC West
mine in which five workers died, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources Godfrey
Oliphant said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a memorial service held for the deceased, Oliphant singled out Gold
Fields as a major contributor to mine casualties in South Africa. The company
accounted for 10 of the 63 deaths experienced at mines in 2012 so far, Oliphant
said.
“We find it unacceptable that Gold Fields still continues to be the major contributor
of the carnage of workers in the mining sector,’ he said. “It is also of great concern
that Driefontein mine [part of the KDC complex] remains the main source of death
of mine workers, followed by Beatrix, within Gold Fields.’
He said the department would launch a formal inquiry into the accident. The five
workers who have died were Colekele Bankane (49), Josiah Dlamini (48),
Mlungiselwa Madevana (40), Mziwakhe Mankunzi (41) and Bavuyise Mbola (38).
South Africa’s mining industry recorded its lowest ever monthly fatality figures in
April with three deaths, but the trend wasn’t sustained. Oliphant said gold (27)
accounted for most of the 63 deaths this year, followed by platinum (21) and coal
(8).
“The mining industry has for decades been the backbone of our economy and a
major provider of employment in South Africa,’ Oliphant said. “But the benefits of
these contributions to development have always been overshadowed by the
continued industry’s poor health and safety record.
“The question that remains in my mind is whether the mining industry is genuinely
committed beyond various statements that they have been made in improving
health and safety of mineworkers.’
Oliphant said the prevalence of fatalities justified the Department of Mineral
Resources’ use of Section 54s; enforced safety-related work stoppages.
“We will apply the use of natural justice on a case-by-case basis as we deal with the
concerns raised by some in the industry who seem convinced that the financial
bottom line reigns supreme over the other equally important dimensions of
sustainability,’ Oliphant said.
“We want to state categorically that it is mischievous to regard Section 54 as the
contributor to the loss of production. This flies in the face of the reality that
operational challenges are contributing significantly to low production.’
