Five workers were trapped after a rockfall at the mine on Friday with only one miner having been rescued. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Regional Secretary, Masibulele Naki, confirmed that of the five miners who were trapped, the proto teams have only managed to rescue one with injuries. The miner was taken to hospital for medical treatment. 

Naki previously told OFM News that the recovery teams had been working tirelessly day and night to rescue the four employees. The fourth and final mineworker was this morning brought to the surface but was, however, confirmed dead. Various civil organisations have thus far conveyed their condolences and raised concerns over the lack of safety for mine workers across the country.

The South African National Civic Organisation’s chairperson in the North West, Paul Sebegoe, has in a statement said “We urge authorities to impose hefty fines including stiff punishment to mining companies for non-compliance with occupational health and safety standards. They must be held accountable for their commitment to the zero-harm approach which requires a paradigm shift from mine leadership”.

NUM has, on the other hand, stated “It is an unfortunate state of affairs that miners do dangerous work and get paid peanuts while in actual fact, dangerous work like mining should be well remunerated. The NUM strongly condemns the employer’s actions in not following proper safety procedures in pursuit of beating production targets”.

OFM News