Minister to tackle safety issues in mines

THE Department of Minerals and Energy last week said it would distribute guidelines on sustainable development for the mining sector that would include safety.

There have been calls recently for more stringent safety measures in mines.

The DME's statement seems to be a desperate plea to avert a strike by the National Union of Mineworkers, planned for either the end of this month or early November.

NUM is negotiating with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration for a one-day national protected strike for its 300000 members over the lack of safety interventions by mining companies.

Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica announced the guidelines during her address at the Chamber of Mines Conference on Sustainable Development held in Sandton, near Johannesburg, last week.

She said the draft Strategic Framework for Implementing Sustainable Development in the South African Mining Sector would cover safety, corporate social responsibility, health, and the environmental impacts of mining in the country.

Sonjica said: "As far as we are aware, we are also one of the first developing countries to initiate the development of a sustainable development strategy."

Last month, President Thabo Mbeki ordered an audit on mine safety on local mines, after 3200 miners from Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine were trapped underground for 40 hours.

Since the order was instituted, six miners have died in mines owned by Gold Fields, Anglo Platinum, and Northam Platinum.