More bloodshed in SA’s mines

By Jurina Nkwazi
27 October 2010

The National Union of Mineworkers says they are disappointed and shocked to see that workers are still dying in South Africa’s mining industry.

This comes in the wake of yet another mineworker who has lost his life at the Bafokeng rasimone Platinum Mine in Rustenburg early morning and two others on Monday.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said, “The circumstances which led to the accidents are being investigated.”

He said, “A tractor driver died at Ocon bricks in Rustenburg when the vehicle slid from a berm, overturned and fell on him on Monday. “

“Another mineworker died just four hours later at Copper Slate in Swarttuggens when he fell from a trailer‘s drawbar drawn by a tractor,” he said.

Frans Baleni, the NUM General Secretary said, “All these are what the mining industry calls safety improvements in South Africa”.

“This bloodletting has to stop and it must stop now. If it does not stop, then someone must be held accountable", says Baleni.

NUM says they have repeatedly called on the mining industry in South Africa to take tangible steps to improve safety rather than relegate safety to workshops, talkshops and lunch hour meetings over beer.