South Africa’s Mine Union calls for more shaft inspections to avoid accidents

The South African National Union of Mineworkers’ Health and Safety secretary, Masibulele Naki, has underscored the urgent need for mines to clarify and prioritise shaft inspection procedures to prevent accidents. This follows an incident at Impala Platinum in Rustenburg, North West, in which 11 mineworkers were killed and 75 seriously injured. Reports indicate that a lift fell down a one-kilometer shaft for about 200-meters as miners were being brought to the surface after their shift. Naki emphasises the crucial importance of making shaft inspections a top priority.