JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mining major Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) confirmed on Tuesday that a female worker at its Khomanani mine has died after being violently assaulted.

The worker was found in the mine’s underground workings on Monday.

Amplats said in a statement that preliminary investigations indicated that the employee was assaulted and succumbed to the injuries.

The miner stated that it was working with the relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators were identified.

“We call on the law enforcement agencies to ensure that no stone is left unturned and that perpetrators are brought to book,” said the National Union of Mineworkers general secretary Frans Baleni.

In January, two mineworkers died at the Modikwa platinum mine in Limpopo, Amplats’ joint venture with diversified miner African Rainbow Minerals.

Meanwhile, black-empowered platinum miner Royal Bafokeng Platinum has suspended operations at the North shaft of its Bafokeng Rasimone platinum mine in the North West, pending an investigation into a fatality on Monday.

South Africa's Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu told the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba that she remained concerned about the continued loss of lives at the mines.

Shabangu said that there was a slight drop in mining fatalities to 123 in 2011 from 127 in 2010 and that 13 miners have been killed this year in South Africa.
 

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