Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Monday criticised Sibanye Platinum’s decision to pursue a legal bid against the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) for alleged financial damages as a result of Section 54 (i.e. safety) stoppages.  

Sibanye brought the claim following the application of a number of Section 54 closures at its Kroondal platinum mines last year.  The union said in a statement:  “Section 54 of the Mine Health and Safety Act was brought to life because it has contributed to saving lives in the mining industry.  Prior to the implementation of Section 54, people were dying in their hundreds in the mining industry, but it has since seen a rapid decline of fatalities in the mining industry.”  The NUM urged the Chamber of Mines to intervene as a matter of urgency and “to then engage with the DMR to discuss the elephant in the room rather than dispose of the baby with dirty bath water."

• Read this report in full at Mining Weekly

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page