* Jan 1-March 12 fatalities down y/y to 22 from 27
* Minister says will continue stopping unsafe areas
PRETORIA, March 20 (Reuters) – Fatalities are falling in
South Africa’s mines as the industry is subjected to a surge of
inspections, and the country’s mines minister said on Tuesday
she would not relent despite industry complaints.
Susan Shabangu told a news briefing that from Jan. 1 to
March 12 of this year, 22 miners were killed in South Africa’s
mines compared to 27 in the same period in 2011.
The number of injuries fell sharply over the same period by
40 percent to 403 from 667.
“Whilst there is improvement in the statistics, I’m of the
opinion that there is room for improvement as the fatalities in
the mining industry are still unacceptable,” she said.
“The department will continue with the stance of stopping
unsafe working areas.”
The department of mineral resources has launched a safety
drive to cut fatalities in the country’s mines, the world’s
deepest and among the most dangerous.
The industry has complained about the blanket nature of the
safety stoppages ordered by the department which has seen entire
mines shut down for infractions in one shaft or operation.
The safety-related stoppages cost the platinum sector
300,000 ounces last year in lost output.
(Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Mark Potter)
© Thomson Reuters 2012 All rights reserved
