14 died at Sibyane-Stillwater this year – AMCU
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) says another mine worker was killed at Sibanye-Still water on Tuesday.
AMCU’s National Chairperson for Health and Safety Xolani Bokoloshe says a blast led to the ground collapse.
“According to the report received, at approximately 15:48 yesterday a suspected blasting incident happened at 3 North Shaft of Sibanye-Stillwater’s Beatrix operation close to Theunissen in the Free State. This led to a fall of ground which injured 5 mineworkers and killed one 1 who was the driver.”
Bokoloshe says this is the 14th death to have occurred this year alone.
“Fourteen people were killed this year; it shows that Sibyane-Still water are not intending to stop the killing of the mineworkers. What is important to them is the profit.
“They don’t want to invest in the necessary safety infrastructure while they are busy purchasing mines in other countries and paying themselves millions in bonuses every year. The gold price hit record levels and even during Covid they made record profits, but still we see these repeatable accidents happening."
He added that at the moment they can’t confirm the exact cause of the incident.
“We cannot at this stage confirm whether this incident is the result of blasting or whether it happened due to erosion on the face.
“As AMCU, we are mourning as another one of our comrades has lost his life while working to put food on the table for his family.”
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