JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Trade union Solidarity on Monday issued a warning to platinum producer Anglo Platinum (Angloplat) to investigate mining safety at the company’s mines, following the death of the sixteenth Angloplat worker this year.

Angloplat spokesperson Simon Tebele said that the fatality was caused by an underground electrocution at the company’s Turffontein mine, outside Rustenburg. “The shaft is now closed and a full investigation is under way to identify the cause of the accident.”

Tebele noted that as the investigations were at a preliminary stage, no further information could be given about the nature of the accident. The team investigating the incident included members of the union, as well as representatives from the Department of Minerals and Energy.

Solidarity noted that four Angloplat workers died in the first quarter of this year, while four more died during the second quarter. Another six fatalities were reported during the third quarter. So far, two of the company’s employees have died in the fourth quarter.

“More than 11% of this year’s mining deaths have already occurred at Anglo Platinum mines, which is great cause for concern for Solidarity. Mine management can no longer just look on while people die, and must therefore immediately look into the worrying safety conditions at Anglo Platinum and take decisive action to manage the raging safety crisis,” said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.

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