JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa-based Harmony Gold has halted production at its West shaft, Steyn 2, Bambanani and Unisel operations after the death of a worker on Sunday.

Spokesperson Henrika Basterfield said the fatality occurred during scheduled headgear maintenance on the West shaft, in the Free State, to enable hoisting of ore from the planned Bambanani and Steyn 2 pillar extractions.

Operations have been stopped until investigations into the accident had been completed, she added.

Last week, Harmony reported its second fatality of the year at its Doornkop mine, near Randfontein.

An employee had been killed in an accident at the mine’s shaft bottom and operations had also been halted while an investigation was under way.

The incident followed a mud rush accident at the mine in which an employee was killed on January 4.

The latest Harmony accident comes only days after two workers were killed at the Modikwa platinum mine – a joint venture between African Rainbow Minerals and Anglo American Platinum.

The National Union of Mineworkers said more than 120 mineworkers died in South Africa last year.
 

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