Bloomberg News reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) has advised that the number of deaths in the mining sector rose to 55 between January and 28 October this year, from 43 in the same period last year.

The rising fatalities meant that workers' safety was deteriorating for a second year in a row after 60 workers died in accidents last year, the council (previously called the Chamber of Mines) indicated. SA’s gold mines accounted for the highest number of fatalities during the period, followed by platinum mines. The sector recorded its lowest fatalities on record of 51 workers in 2019. "With the regression we are experiencing, we need to put a lot more focus on technology and modernisation to improve skills and mining methods to keep employees safe," said Kumba Iron Ore CEO Themba Mkhwanazi, who also chairs the group’s Zero Harm Leadership Forum. The mining industry employs more than 450,000 people.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Felix Njini at Fin24

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