High number of Sibanye-Stillwater mine fatalities concerns DMR

Image by Fifty, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

“The mine is the leading contributor to fatalities in the industry in 2018,” the department said. Five mineworkers died earlier this month at Sibanye's Kloof Ikamva mine from gas and heat exposure after entering an abandoned shaft.

It said it has received a report regarding the death of a worker at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Khomanani Shaft at the Driefontein operations, near Carletonville.

Miner entered scraper path

Sibanye-Stillwater said in a statement that the miner had entered a scraper path and was caught by the scraper. The mine has yet to determine the reasons for him entering the scraper path.

“Our inspectors have commenced with an investigation into the accident. The department sends its condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased. The Chief Inspector of Mines is busy with an investigation into these accidents,” the department said.

Once the report into the accidents is finalised, it will be submitted to the minister. An update will be provided once the report has been completed.

The mine said it would convene a safety summit on Friday in order to collectively address these incidents, prevent the loss of lives at its operations and re-establish the mine’s safety record.