ANA reports that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said on Friday that the Kusasalethu mine incident where five mineworkers lost their lives should be a “turning point” in the health and safety of the mining industry.
He went on to indicate: “We will begin to be tough in exercising our powers and regulatory issues (in matters) like this. I have told the inspectors to leave no stone unturned. We want to get to the bottom of all that has happened here. We must see what management has done to remedy the situation of health and safety.” Zwane was briefing the media following his meeting with Harmony Gold’s management about the Kusasalethu accident which occurred on 25 August. Harmony’s chairperson, Patrice Mostepe, said that the deaths were totally unacceptable and that, whatever came out of the investigation, they would take full responsibility. Motsepe also said the incident might signal the end of the deep-level mining era in SA because, as investors, they were questioning themselves whether to exit the industry or stay put.
- Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
- Read too, Deaths serve to remind industry of necessity to achieve zero harm: DMR, at Mining Weekly
- And also, Motsepe: ‘We are responsible for miners who died at Harmony Gold’, at TimesLive
- As well as, Motsepe: We'll close Kusasalethu if necessary, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page