Trade unions have warned Impala Platinum (Implats) employees in Rustenburg to stay away from the mine pending an investigation into the deaths of their colleagues.
Eleven mineworkers were killed and over 70 were rushed to the hospitals on Monday when a conveyance cage hoisting them to the surface after their shift plunged to the ground.
It has since emerged that the employees are divided over a decision not to return to work.
Implats CEO Nico Muller said on Tuesday that mining operations had been suspended, noting that the company’s priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing employees.
“Operations at 11 shaft and 11C shaft will remain closed until all internal processes are complete,” said Muller on Tuesday.
“We are conducting these with officials from the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy.”
Implats spokesperson Emma Townshend said on Wednesday that the current pause in mining operations is at the company’s election to ensure that interventions are completed.
“It is also to give due respect to the nature of the tragedy that our team has collectively suffered,” said Townshend.
“No employees’ basic remuneration will be penalised as a result of our decision to halt operations. This is not a case of no work, no pay.”
However, some workers still wanted to report for duty.
Don’t go back to work
Jeffrey Mphahlele, spokesperson for the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), said the union has resolved that all operations should remain suspended until an investigation has been concluded.
“We understand that only one shaft was affected, however, all other shafts should also be investigated,” said Mphahlele.
“We do not want to be faced with a situation where we allow workers to go back to work only to realise later that something else was faulty in another shaft.
“We urge all mineworkers to refrain from going back to work because we want to save lives. Operations will resume once everyone is satisfied with the investigations.”
Mphahlele said Amcu believes the mining company should be held accountable for the incident that claimed 11 lives.
As a majority union at Implats in Rustenburg, Mphahlele said it was heartbreaking to learn that all the deceased belonged to Amcu, including 58 other workers who were injured.
Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, spokesperson for National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), also confirmed that there was confusion whether work should be suspended.
She said Numsa wants operations to resume only after an investigation has been concluded.
Numsa mourns loss of lives
“We represent contract workers and our members also do work at shaft 11,” she said.
“However, our members were not directly affected because they are contract workers. They had finished their shift an hour or two before this incident.
“Numsa dips its revolutionary red flag to mourn the loss of these workers. They are not just numbers, they are breadwinners and they have households who depend on them.
“We send our deepest condolences to their families and friends for this tragic loss of life.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa also offered his condolences to the families of the deceased mineworkers and wished the injured a speedy and full recovery.
Ramaphosa called on all stakeholders to assist the chief inspector of mines in the investigation.
“This process is vital to protecting mineworkers in line with the industry’s zero-harm objectives and enabling operational continuity in mines.” said Ramaphosa.
