Mining Weekly reports that trade union federation Cosatu has denounced Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe’s statement that bringing criminal charges against mining bosses for fatalities at mines would cripple the industry.  

Following the release of mining sector fatalities for 2018, Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), called for an amendment to mining and safety legislation, saying: “We must amend mining and safety legislation to ensure that if any mining boss kills workers, they get arrested.  Simple as that."  Cosatu has echoed Amcu's views, claiming that Mantashe has downplayed the deaths of mine workers.  "We reiterate our call for the Mine Health and Safety Act to be amended to allow for the prosecution of mine bosses if workers are killed underground.  Mine owners must be held personally liable for lives lost underground.  This is the only way to end mine fatalities," Sizwe Pamla, Cosatu's spokesperson, stated.  Mantashe revealed that mining fatalities were down from 90 to 81 between 2017 and 2018 across all mine categories.

• Read the full original of the report on the above at Mining Weekly

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