JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South African miner Gold Fields on Friday confirmed that a worker had died at its Driefontein mine, in Carletonville.

Gold Fields spokesperson Julian Gwillim said that the worker was killed in a tramming accident. He added that operations were currently ongoing, while the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) conducted an investigation. It was expected that the DMR would give a verdict later in the day, as to whether or not operations at Driefontein should be halted.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has reported that another miner had also lost his life, this time at Kangra Coal, in Piet Retief, which is 40% owned by black empowerment group Shanduka.

NUM said that four miners were trapped underground owing to the collapse of the pillar. Three of the miners were rescued, and with critical injuries and were rushed to hospital.

The latest accidents brought the number of fatalities in 2009, to 126.

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