Numsa: Beatrix Mine should remain shut
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) believes
Sibanye Stillwater’s Beatrix Mine in Welkom should remain closed until the workers’ safety can be guaranteed.
NUMSA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says although the union is relieved that the more than 900 miners have been rescued, a thorough investigation needs to be conducted into the cause of the incident.
The workers were trapped following an Eskom power outage at the mine on Wednesday.
The mine says the outage was caused by a powerful storm.
"Mineworkers in South Africa give up their lives to work in a profession which continues to treat them with disdain and disrespect," Hlubi Majola says.
She says every year since 2012, more than 70 mineworkers have lost their lives as a result of mining accidents.
"That’s because the industry has no interest in improving safety conditions underground. They pursue profits before the wellbeing and safety of workers," she says.
Hlubi-Majola says the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) needs to investigate why there was no generator, before allowing the mine to resume operations.