Mantashe “Very Worried” by High Fatality Rate at Sibanya, Says Charter Being Compiled

South African Mineral Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe says a report on safety issues at Sibanye-Stillwater Gold mines is being put together.

Mantashe was briefing the media in Pretoria on Sunday, about the Drafting of the Mining Charter. The charter is set to be released this week on Friday.

The minister also touched on Sibanye-Stillwater mine pointing out it has high numbers of people dying at its operations, and acknowledging that action should be taken against the mine.

“The acting chief inspector is compiling a report on all accidents that occurred at Sibanye-Stillwater operations since the beginning of the year. This will enable us to take an appropriate action guided by the mine health and safety act as opposed to knee jerk reactions,” he said.

Mantashe said the report will guide them on how to take actions.

“We are waiting for that report. We are very worried about the fact that out of 45 fatalities thus far 20 are from one company Sibanye-Stillwater. That worries us a great deal.”

Last week five miners died in Sibanye-Stillwater after being overpowered by gas while they were underground.