In Business Today

Mine fatalities rise as one mineworker 's body is exhumed

The decomposed body of a mineworker which has been trapped at Goldfields ‘s Beatrix mine near Welkom has been exhumed this morning after twenty days.

The mineworker who was trapped after a major groundfall died at the scene and was followed by a series of fatalities at the following mines; Oryx (1), Paardekraal Cementation(1) due to a mudrush, Northam Platinum (1), Eagle Granite (1) due to methane explosion; Murray and Roberts Cementation (1), Masimung (1), Middleburg Mine (1) due to methane explosion and Corobrick (1). A total of nine workers died in the past two weeks alone.

“The NUM condemns these senseless deaths and while we are relieved that the body of a mineworker has been exhumed at Beatrix, we condemn the manner in which Proto-teams (rescue teams) are being remunerated” says Eric Gcilitshana, the NUM‘s Secretary for Health and Safety.

“They are remunerated according to the hours they take to rescue people or exhume a body and thus the longer they take, the better the remuneration” argues Gcilitshana.

“We urge the employers to review the manner in which rescue teams are remunerated, so that there could be a sense of urgency” he says

“We further urge the Minerals and Energy Department to speed up the in loco inspection and make the report accessible as soon as possible” he says.

The NUM passes its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased in this most difficult time.

Disclaimer: In Business Today disclaimerThe In Business Today section is reserved for relevant company announcements and releases. Companies are not entitled to have their announcements published in this section, but from time to time, these may be selected by Moneyweb for publication in the interest of the Moneyweb Community of readers. The copy has not been generated by Moneyweb nor should be attributed to Moneyweb. Nor has the information contained therein been verified by Moneyweb journalists. 29 January 2007