The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) is mourning the loss of another worker who perished during a mine accident which took place this morning at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg.

According to reports received by AMCU, the accident occurred this morning 4 August 2021, based on limited information at this stage.  The local AMCU Branch is still conducting an in loco inspection to determine the causes, but initial indications are that the fatality was caused by a locomotive.

This brings the current fatalities for 2021 in the mining sector to thirty-four (34) to date, with 1084 reported injuries (as of 2 August 2021).

Technology exists that can retard the locomotive without human intervention, when the locomotive approaches a pedestrian.  However, sadly this technology has not been implemented by many mining houses due to their endless pursuit of profit.  The lack of implementation of collision avoidance systems by mines is highly questionable.

AMCU is saddened by the fact that the South African mining industry is still killing workers even though there is existing technology that could easily prevent such accidents.

AMCU has previously approached the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) on the non-compliance of major mining houses with the Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) regulations, and this process is still under way.

“As long as the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA) is not amended to hold CEOs accountable for deaths of workers, we will never see any change in behaviour”, said AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa.  “Even today, three mineworkers still lie trapped at Lily Mine.  It is obvious that the huge bonuses of CEOs are based on their bottom line, but not on keeping workers safe and healthy”, he added.  “These incidents are repeatable accidents, but still we keep on seeing workers killed day by day while the mines declare super profits and make handsome dividend payments to their investors”, Mathunjwa concluded.

For interviews:  AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa