TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – A worker employed by mining contractor MCC Contracts died at precious metals junior Platmin's Pilanesberg mine, the company reported on Thursday.

The worker was killed in a vehicle accident on the mine late on Wednesday.

South Africa's Department of Minerals and Energy has launched an investigation into the incident, and all mining activities at Pilanesburg have been suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation.

However, the DME has given permission for the processing plant to resume operations, Platmin said.

The company announced earlier this week that it had begun treating ore in the UG2 section of the operation's milling and flotation plant.

The Pilanesberg mine is expected to reach a steady state annualised production rate of 250 000 oz/y of platinum group metals and gold by the third quarter of this year.

Almost 40 people have died in South Africa's mines this year already.

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