NUM is deeply worried that two mineworkers are trapped underground at Impala Platinum in Rustenburg.

NUM Press Statement, 19 May 2016

NUM is deeply worried that two mineworkers are trapped underground at Impala Platinum in Rustenburg.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) can confirm that two workers are trapped underground at Impala Platinum in Rustenburg after a fall of ground yesterday at number 1 Shaft. 

The NUM is extremely concerned about the continuing trend of mineworkers being trapped underground in the mining industry in South Africa. We call on employers to come out of their comfort zone and take the issue of health and safety seriously.

The NUM is concerned because  three mineworkers, two of them women are still trapped underground at the Lily gold mine in Mpumalanga  They remain trapped after a collapse on 5 February this year. 

We call upon the mining companies to invest more money in protecting  the lives of workers than focusing more on profits. Mineworkers cannot be sacrificed for profits. We also call on mineworkers to refuse to work in dangerous conditions.

Major multinational corporations like Impala Platinum which should be industry leaders in creating a safety culture are doing far too little to prevent fatal accidents. And the situation will not get better by itself. 

We call on the DMR inspectorate to hold the mining  industry fully accountable for its failures and adopt a no-nonsense approach when it comes to injuries and fatalities in the mining industry.

For more information, please contact

Livhuwani Mammburu: NUM National Spokesperson: 083 809 3257

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167