There have been 41 fatalities in the South African mining industry to date this year, Mine Health and Safety Council mining relations programme manager Brian Ncube said at the Mining Qualifications Authority Legotla, in Boksburg, on November 23.
This represents a 7% reduction so far over last year’s 49 fatalities, which in turn was a 34% reduction over the 74 deaths reported in 2021.
The gold mining sector has so far reported 20 fatalities, with the platinum group metals sector reporting nine and the coal mining sector six.
A further six fatalities were reported across other mining sectors.
“One life lost is one too many,” Ncube said.