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South Africa’s mineral resources ministry has announced that safety in mining operations is one key area of concern for the country.
Gwede Mantashe, the Mineral Resources Minister recently told media that the industry ended nine consecutive years of falling fatalities in the world’s deepest mines in 2017.
“A third of the fatalities were from rock fall incidents and seismic events,” Mantashe said.
The ministry further alluded that injuries reduced from 2,669 to 2,350 thereby indicating a 12 percent decrease.
“We will be reporting an improvement but we’re still concerned that people are losing their lives,” David Msiza, Chief inspector of mines at the department of mineral resources said.
Not only is health and safety of mineworkers vital to the ministry but to the nation at large as this is critical for sustainability purposes in the mining industry.
Among difficult market conditions South Africa is facing such as soaring labor, power and operational costs, the mines have recorded a major reduction in investments in the recent years.
