JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's mining industry recorded the lowest number of occupational diseases, injuries, and deaths in 2024, marking the lowest number of fatalities in the country's mining history, a government official said Thursday.
Gwede Mantashe, minister of mineral and petroleum resources, made the remarks Thursday while delivering the 2024 Occupational Health and Safety Statistics of the South African mining industry.
According to Mantashe, the South African mining industry recorded 42 fatalities in 2024, down 24 percent compared with the 55 deaths reported in 2023.
"The record is a result of concerted efforts by all relevant parties in providing and maintaining a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health and safety of employees and all those that may be affected by the activities of mining," said Mantashe.
The minister urged stakeholders in the mining sector to support and implement collision avoidance systems brought by new regulations on trackless mobile machinery, and redouble efforts to reach the goal of Zero Harm. He also expressed concern over illegal mining, with South Africa having lost an estimated 60 billion rands (about 3.2 billion U.S. dollars) to the illicit precious metal trade.
South Africa, known for its extensive gold mines, has experienced serious accidents over the past decades. Labor unions, including the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union as well as the National Union of Mineworkers, welcomed the reduction in mining fatalities but said more work should be done to ensure zero deaths.
