Amcu demands that all miners be tested for Covid-19
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) says universal testing needs to be implemented in the mining sector to curb the potential rapid spread of coronavirus.
The sector is on high alert of after 19 mineworkers tested positive for Covid 19 at Impala's Marula mine in Limpopo.
This brings the total number of positive case in the sector to 32, with one fatality.
The union's president Joseph Mathunjwa says universal testing is the only way to curb a possible crisis in the mining sector.
"We have consistently called for proper testing before mineworkers go underground. Screening is not sufficient as it fails to detect those workers who don’t display the known symptoms like high temperature.”
Mathunjwa says the union’s calls have so far fallen on deaf ears and was forced to turn to the courts to set up minimum standards for managing the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The only way to ensure the safety of mineworkers as well as the sustainability of the industry is to upscale to universal testing. All mineworkers must be tested, and this must happen as soon as possible. If we fail to do this, we will face a crisis of epic proportions.”
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