JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Two mineworkers died over the weekend at the Modikwa platinum mine – a joint venture between African Rainbow Minerals and Anglo American Platinum, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said.

The union expressed concern over the “ever-increasing” number of mine deaths.

This month, fatalities occurred at Harmony Gold’s Doornkop mine, near Randfontein, Gold Field’s Driefontein mine, in Gauteng, AngloGold Ashanti’s Savuka mine outside Carletonville and Petra Diamonds’ Bultfontein mine in Kimberley, the NUM said.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka stated that the 2011 death toll of over 120 in the South African mining industry was crushing the government’s goal of zero fatality.

“The NUM strongly believes that drastic action is needed to compel the mining industry to comply with safety standards and procedures. The Presidential Audit into mine safety revealed that only 67% of mines comply with the Mine Health and Safety Act,” he said.

He further added that the NUM remained of the view that the State should undertake a technical audit into the mining industry and its aging and ailing infrastructure.

“We call on the State to hold the industry fully accountable for its failures and adopt a no-nonsense approach when it comes to mine deaths,” Seshoka said.

Meanwhile, Petra Diamonds spokesperson Bobby Morse confirmed the Bultfontein accident, saying it occurred on 750 Level inside the engineering mechanical workshop, during the servicing of a load haul dumper.

No other employees were injured in the incident. Morse said a full investigation was currently under way.

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