Venessa Plagg, a mining operator at the Black Mountain Mine (BMM) Deeps Shaft, in the Northern Cape, has died after being injured in an isolated fall of ground that occurred at Level 49 at about 23:00 on Friday.
All production at the Deeps operation has been suspended.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has been informed and DMRE Chief Inspector of Mines for the Northern Cape joined management and unions for an underground site inspection on Saturday.
BMM is owned by diversified miner Vedanta Resources’ Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) subsidiary.
“We are devastated by this tragic loss, and offer our sincere condolences to Venessa’s family, especially [her husband] Melvin and her two daughters. We offer all our support to them during this terrible time,” said VZI CEO Deshnee Naidoo.