Multinational mining and metals group Sibanye-Stillwater has advised of four fatalities at its Burnstone gold project, near Balfour, following a surface waste rock conveyor collapse on April 13.

The company said five contractor employees were installing a head pulley on the conveyor infrastructure when the conveyor collapsed. Four people died and one sustained serious injuries that are being treated in hospital.

A full investigation into the exact cause of the incident is under way.

Meanwhile, Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy chairperson Sahlulele Luzipo has expressed condolences to the families, colleagues and friends of the deceased employees, while wishing a speedy recovery to the employee still in hospital.

Luzipo called for a legislated way of imposing punitive measures against mining companies that fail to put mechanisms in place to prevent fatalities.

He urged mining companies to invest more in the research and development of technologies that could detect potential incidences before they occur.

The National Union of Mineworkers also expresses concern about the fatal incident.

The union noted that the incident involved the use of a 140 t crane to lift the pulley from the ground and place it in position. As the pulley was being aligned, the gantry collapsed and resulted in the deaths and serious injury.

The union called for an immediate, thorough investigation to take place.

Minerals Council of South Africa weighed in, saying that it will also study the incident at Burnstone and take lessons from it to ensure there is no repeat of this tragic event.

As of late, the council has monthly meetings with mining industry CEOs to share their learnings on safety incidents and interventions as part of the industry's aspiration of achieving zero harm.

Before the Burnstone incident, the mining industry in South Africa recorded 11 fatalities in the year to date.