This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
Miningmx reports that mining fatalities moved into double figures at Harmony Gold this calendar year after the gold producer reported the death of a miner at its Doornkop operation, west of Johannesburg.
“We are deeply concerned about the unfortunate incidents at our mines,” said Peter Steenkamp, CEO of Harmony in a statement. He committed to improving the group’s safety record through a “safety humanistic transformation initiative”. Of the 10 reported fatalities at Harmony’s operations, the majority have been ‘falls of ground’ related to seismic activity. Previous incidents occurred at its Kusasalethu, Mponeng, Target, Tshepong South (Phakisa), Bambanani and Target mines. The Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of |Mines) said last month that the mining sector was heading for a second successive increase in mining fatalities this year. The gold sector has recorded the highest number of fatalities with 23, followed by the platinum sector with 14 fatalities compared to the previous year. The leading cause of fatalities remains falls of ground. “We are seriously concerned about this regression in safety. 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 Themba Mkhwanazi, chair of the CEO Zero Harm Leadership Forum. A MineSafe summit supported by Government’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and organised labour, along with the council, has been organised for this month.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David McKay at Miningmx
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page