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The Citizen reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Limpopo said it was “highly disturbed and extremely shocked” to learn that the mine which registered the first case of Covid-19 during lockdown kept quiet about the matter.
The Mogalakwena mine, which is in Limpopo and is owned by Anglo American, apparently registered the first case of Covid-19 in the mining industry after it was granted permission to operate during the lockdown. NUM North East Regional Secretary Phillip Mankge said: “It came as a shock to everyone’s ears during the meeting which was held between the company, department of mineral resources and energy and NUM when the company disclosed to have been the first company to register the first case of Covid-19, but decided to keep it secret. The reason behind that is only informed by the company being greedy and focusing on profits. General manager Richard Cox claims to be misinformed by the occupational medical practitioner.” Mankge also said the union was worried by the number of cases already confirmed since the mines were allowed to resume operation on a 50% capacity in Limpopo. “We have about five confirmed cases of Covid-19 and this calls for an urgent call to Limpopo provincial government to be radical and enforce measures to flatten the curve,” he said. Mankge stated that another mine with a Covid-19 case was Tubatse Alloys Smelter, which registered the case on 9 May.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen
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