JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane on Wednesday urged mining companies to tighten up health and safety initiatives after a fatality at a Randfontein mine this week.
The Department of Mineral Resources said in a statement that a winch operator had been fatally injured in an accident at gold producer Sibanye Gold's Driefontein operation.
“All mines should continuously aim for zero harm and ensure every mineworker returns home unharmed," the Minister commented, pointing out that “incidents” tended to increase during the last quarter of the year.
A team had been dispatched to the mine to conduct an in loco inspection.
Sibanye’s spokesperson confirmed that there had been a fatality at the mine, but could not provide further details at this stage.