JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Harmony Gold has closed its Kusasalethu mine for two weeks, as it takes a stance against the scourge of illegal miners after a fire – the third this month – threatened the safety and health of mineworkers.

The fire, believed to have been started on Thursday by illegal miners, had spurred CEO Graham Briggs to close the mine while efforts to remove all illegal miners and complete all enhanced security and access control measures started.

“The risk of yet another underground fire is a risk that we are not prepared to take and, therefore, we are reverting to this temporary mine closure,” he explained, pointing out that no production would occur during this period and employees would be sent on leave.

Harmony, which was consulting with organised labour and the regulatory authorities, was implementing increased security and improved clocking-in systems to tighten control on who enters and exits its mines.

The gold miner said it also conducts regular inspections of closed-up sections to ensure they remain sealed off and cannot be accessed illegally.

While no one was hurt during Thursday’s incident, Briggs said it was clear illegal mining was a threat to employees’ safety and health and to the mines continued viability.

Briggs commented that illegal miners had threatened some Harmony employees, while others had worked with them by allowing access to workings, equipment and food and water.

During October, 105 illegal miners were arrested and about 25 employees were subject to disciplinary action.

“Kusasalethu’s production has not reached planned levels and these ongoing incidents of sabotage further undermine the mine’s sustainability,” Briggs said.

Further, illegal miners’ activities underground often resulted in disruptions to operations owing to negligence, sabotage, theft, vandalism and damage to property and mining equipment, as well as causing underground fires, depleting mineral deposits and causing pollution, besides others.