JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South African gold miner Harmony on Friday reported a fatality at its Phakisa mine, in the Free State.

News of the latest facility comes only a day after Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said that 277 workers had died in South African mines in the past year, but stressed that almost half of these were in illegal operations.

"The number of deaths due to mining incidents for the period of June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009 were 142 deaths of miners lawfully employed (and) 135 deaths of illegal miners," Shabangu said in a written reply to a question in Parliament.

Harmony spokesperson Marian van der Walt said that the cause of death was unknown, and that an autopsy would be conducted. An investigation into the possible cause of death was also under way.

Van der Walt added that the Department of Mining and Energy had visited the mine on Friday, but had not issued a Section 54 notice.

"The loss of life is tragic and investigations into the incident are under way. 
Safety will continue to receive priority attention at all Harmony`s operations," said CEO Graham Briggs.

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