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The Star reports that the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) has raised concerns over the increased number of mineworkers who have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
Mining companies were permitted to resume 50% of their operations under Alert level 4 of the national lockdown. The party pointed that despite the fact that minimum guidelines were issued by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act to contain the spread of the virus, they had nonetheless not stopped the pandemic from reaching mining companies. Mineral Resources Minister recently announced that 384 people in the mining sector had tested positive for the virus out of the 4,600 tested in Gauteng, North West and Limpopo. The party also expressed its concerns about mining communities and noted that the minimum guidelines published by the department did not deal with the necessary action to combat the spread of Covid-19 in mining communities. SRWP vowed to pressure the government to shut down mining operations until widespread consultation with everyone had taken place and thorough risk assessment and disinfection of mining workplace was prioritised. The party also vowed to fight for formerly employed elderly mine workers battling to get their compensation for occupational health.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gift Tlou at The Star
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