Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says the Acting Chief Inspector of Mines will be tasked with doing the investigation into the numerous fatalities at Sibanye Stillwater in 2018.
Mantashe says of major concern is that the company accounts for almost half of the 45 fatalities nationwide so far in 2018.
He says once the investigations are concluded his department will be in a better position to deal with the issue of health and safety.
Mantashe says following the release of the newly drafted Mining Charter on Friday, members of the public and other stakeholders have until the end of July to submit suggestions and inputs.
He says they have already embarked on intensive consultation with mining and organisations across the country to sell the newly drafted mining policy.
The minister says they are currently dealing with challenges facing the department including mining license backlogs and alleged corruption.
Mantashe says government is committed to uprooting corruption in the mining sector.
He says they are currently dealing with several cases of corruption across all the provinces.
Mantashe says the department is also conducting internal and external investigations into allegations of bribery and extortion including double granting of mining licenses to more than one company or person at a time.
“We are dealing with the specific case in Mpumalanga which we are going to investigate in all areas where people use Section 54 on Companies to extort bribes.”
“In the case, it is alleged in Mpumalanga that a person wanted R150 000 to enlist Section 54. We are dealing with that case; once we finish it we will pronounce the outcome of that case.”
Mantashe says his department is dealing with the backlog in the issuing of mining licenses.
He says government is also concerned about the number of fatalities in the mining sector.
The minister says a report on safety issues at Sibanye Stillwater Gold mines is being compiled as the company has recorded the highest number of deaths in 2018.
“We are very worried about the fact that out of 45 fatalities thus far, 20 are from one company – Sibanye Stillwater. That worries us a great deal. Gold mining is far ahead of the other sectors when it comes to fatalities and that cannot continue. We wish to reiterate our commitment and mining is not about rocks, it’s about people.”
On the draft Mining Charter, the chair of the team tasked with putting together the new report, Mosa Mabuza, says with regard to black empowerment clause they focused on quality rather than quantity.
Mabuza elaborates, “Our view is that we must focus on the quality of empowerment as opposed to excessive focus on the quantity, the figures, and the threshold. It is 30%, 50 % of course we have people calling for 521%. We had people calling for 80% and our view is that let focus on quality of empowerment because the intention is to create quality black participation in the mining industry.”
Mantashe says following successful engagement with various communities and social partners, the department is working towards finalising the Charter. Plans to hold an inclusive summit in two weeks’ time are underway.
Click video below:
