SowetanLive reports that Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has ordered a speedy investigation into the cause of a fire that killed six miners at a copper mine in Phalaborwa, Limpopo.
Mantashe visited the Palabora Mining Company mine where the miners perished after a fire broke out underground when a conveyor belt apparently caught fire on Sunday morning. Mantashe was taken underground at the mine on Tuesday to conduct an inspection-in-loco to see the conditions under which the miners worked. He told mineworkers: "We have instructed a full investigation into the cause of the incident. We want to know why the conveyor belt caused the fire that killed the miners. We are working with the mine management to find out exactly what happened. A report will be released at a later stage." He indicated that such investigations typically took a month to conclude. Mantashe also said a report on the cause of the deaths at a Sibanye-Stillwater gold mine, where seven people were killed two months ago, would be released soon.
- Read this report by Frank Maponya in full at SowetanLive
- Read too, Bosses at copper mine a bunch of liars, claims bereaved mother, at The Citizen
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page