The South African mining sector recorded 51 fatalities in 2019, the lowest ever recorded in the South African mining industry according to Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.
“Looking at the fatalities per commodity in 2019, the gold sector recorded 19 compared to 40 in 2018, a year-on- year improvement of 53%.
In platinum, 19 fatalities were recorded compared to 12 in 2018. Other mines, which include diamonds, chrome, copper, zinc, sand, lime, granite, manganese, nickel and bricks, recorded six deaths compared to 20 in 2018,” the minister said.
Mantashe also confirmed that 2 406 occupational injuries had been reported in 2019 compared to 2 447 reported during 2018.
“With regard to occupational diseases, the mining sector saw a decline of 22.86%. Silicosis cases decreased by 28.68%, pulmonary tuberculosis cases decreased by 23.63% and noise-induced hearing loss cases decreased by 22.34%.”
The record comes as the mining sector marks the 60th anniversary of the Coalbrook mining disaster, which saw 435 mineworkers lose their lives on 21 January 1960.
