NUM: Stricter laws needed for companies violating health and safety
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called for harsher penalties for mining companies which violate the sector’s health and safety standards.
The mineral resources department revealed on Friday that 81 miners died in 2018, a marginal improvement to the 90 who died at mines across the country in 2017.
The NUM's Sipho Mgwane says while reduction in the number of fatalities is to be welcomed, the department needs clamp down on companies which do not adhere to the Health and Safety Act.
"There is indeed a slight improvement. Once again, as the NUM, we call on the department to amend the Mine Health and Safety Act so that it become stricter to mining companies that are violating the act. As it is now, the current act allows perpetrators to pay fines. We want them to be prosecuted and jailed.”
The union also wants a separate report from the department on the number of illegal miners who lost their lives.
"We do acknowledge the fact that illegal mining is not a mining activity, rather a criminal activity, but it is important to know what is going on. Lives are being lost day in and day out,” says Mungwe.
A group of 22 people were trapped at the Gloria coal mine in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, in February following an underground explosion.
At least 18 people have been confirmed dead.
It’s believed the group was in the process of stealing copper cables in the unused shaft at the time of the explosion.