100 mines closed since 2005

One-hundred South African mines have been shut down in the past five years, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said in a written reply.

Closure certificates were issued for 17 mines in 2005/06, 15 in 2006/07 and 21 in both 2007/08 and 2008/09, she said in reply to a parliamentary question by the Democratic Alliance.

Last year a further 26 mines closed.

The minister did not provide any detail on the nature or location of the mines that had been closed