JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South African gold producer Harmony on Monday reported a fatality at the Merriespruit 3 shaft in the Free State.

The accident at Merriespruit shaft, which forms part of its Virginia operations, occurred as a result of a tramming accident, the group said in a statement.

Harmony’s management together with the Department of Mineral Resources had started an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, the gold miner said that operations at its Elandsrand mine, near Carletonville, would resume on Monday, as the Section 54 notice was lifted.

The was shut on November 27, after a seismic-related fall-of-ground incident claimed the life of one worker.

Harmony spokesperson Esha Brijmohan said that an investigation into the accident was launched on the same day, and that the Harmony management presented its findings to the Department of Mineral Resources on Monday.

It was estimated that between 65 kg and 70 kg of gold production was lost during the time that operations at the mine were suspended.

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