Mining union laments another fatality in the country’s mines

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The mining union, AMCU, has condemned the rise in mining fatalities following the death of a miner on Friday.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union reported the death of a miner in a rockfall at Evander Gold Mine in Mpumalanga.

AMCU noted that this death took the national fatality toll this year to 59, including 23 contractor employees, compared with 38 fatalities and seven contractor employees last year.

Union president Joseph Matunjwa said they warned the mining industry earlier this year that the upward trend in fatalities showed that the industry was regressing in its efforts to prevent workplace deaths.

“According to preliminary information received by the union, the incident occurred at approximately 12:00 while the General Team Assistant was conducting barring activities underground. A rock dislodged and struck him on the back.

“The mineworker was attended to by an underground paramedic at the underground medical station, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered. Despite these efforts, he could not be resuscitated and was declared dead,” Matunjwa said.

“Those warnings have now materialised, with the fatality toll standing at 59, compared with 38 during the corresponding period last year.

Of the 59 fatalities recorded this year, 23 involved contractor employees, compared with seven during the corresponding period in 2025,” he said.

AMCU said it is unacceptable that mineworkers continue to die in workplaces governed by stringent Mine Health and Safety requirements.

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