Cosatu condemns mine fatalities 01-05-08

 

COSATU condemns mine fatalities

The Congress of South African Trade Unions sends condolences to the families, friends and fellow workers of the nine contract workers who died today, May Day, at Gold Fields's South Deep mine when a cable of the cage they were riding in snapped and the cage fell 58 metres down a shaft.

It is tragic that on the very day when workers should be on holiday celebrating our achievements and campaigning for a better life for all workers, these nine workers should be losing their lives while working.

What is even more shocking is that this disaster follows the death of another four other workers in an underground accident on Tuesday at Gold Fields' Driefontein mine and another who died after a rock fall at South Deep the same day. That is 14 deaths in 48 hours in two mines owned by the same company!

The South Africa mining industry had an appalling average of 244 work-related deaths per year reported between 1997 and 2007. COSATU fully agrees with Minister Buyelwa Sonjica that the safety record of the industry, which saw a 10% increase in fatalities in 2007, was "totally unacceptable." It is one of the highest in the industrialised world.

COSATU demands an urgent and thorough investigation to establish the cause of these accidents and who was responsible, and strong disciplinary action against anyone found to have been negligent. We also demand that inspections be carried at all the country's mines, and that if any breaches of safety are revealed mining operations be halted until they have been rectified.

COSATU will support any action that its affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers, decides to take in protest against this intolerable number of fatalities and to demand higher standards of safety.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets

Braamfontein, 2017

P.O. Box 1019

Johannesburg, 2000

SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667

Cell: 0828217456

E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za