The Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala, has called on the mining industry to adopt a strong health and safety culture to eradicate harm and death in the sector.
She was speaking at the 2024 Mine Health and Safety Summit.
As of Monday, the industry recorded a year-on-year decrease of some 11% in fatalities – coming down from 38 fatalities this time last year to 34 deaths.
“It is to be noted that the implementation of technology alone is not enough. To achieve zero harm, we must also cultivate and sustain a strong health and safety culture throughout the mining sector.
“The Health and Safety Culture Transformation Framework developed by the MHSC [Mine Health and Safety Council] provides a solid foundation for this.
“However, the implementation of the framework across the industry remains uneven, and more work is needed to ensure that health and safety is elevated and recognised as a top priority and core value by all stakeholders and every mining operation, from the largest corporations to the smallest operators,” Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said.
She said this would require more than merely “following protocols and checking boxes".
"It is about leadership, accountability and a deep, shared commitment to the well-being of every worker.
“It requires a shift in mindset, where the health and safety of mineworkers is not seen as an obstacle to productivity, but as a critical component of operational success,” she emphasised.
The Deputy Minister added that any injury or death remained “one too many”. and urged the sector to continue striving for zero harm.
“Many of these incidents are repeats and they can be prevented. Fall of ground accidents remain one of the largest accident categories, and the predominant cause of fatalities followed by general accident and transportation categories, respectively.
“This is regrettable, as it is expected that all mines should have appropriate measures and expertise to enhance the health and safety of mineworkers. So, we urge you to go back to the drawing board and constantly focus on safety performance,” Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said.
On the side of government, the Deputy Minister highlighted that Cabinet has approved the submission of the draft Mine Health and Safety Amendment Bill (MHSA Bill) to Parliament for its deliberation and adoption.
She said the following interventions are also continuing:
• Engaging union leadership, CEOs and Boards of Directors of different mining houses to enhance the concerted efforts in the eradication of mine deaths.
• Stoppage of unsafe mines to ensure that employers take appropriate measures that will prevent harm to the mine employees.
• Enforcing and monitoring of health and safety at mines through focused inspections and audits to be escalated during the remaining period of 2024 and beyond.
• Ensuring that safe mining practices are adopted, given that a significant number of accidents occurred whilst opening or mining old areas.
• Ensuring that all mines collaborate with inspectors and organised labour to have health and safety days and campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of adhering to health and safety protocols.
“South Africa’s mining industry is globally recognised, and our safety record is comparable to some of the leading mining nations.
"However, as demonstrated by countries like Australia and Canada, there are higher benchmarks we can aspire to.
“We must, therefore, not allow ourselves to become complacent and accept that while the progress we have made is commendable, there remains an opportunity for improvement,” Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said. – SAnews.gov.za
