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Unions to protest against Sibanye Stillwater

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Unions in the mining sector are gearing up to take on Sibanye Stillwater this week. The SACP has already indicated it’ll also enter the fray.

This in the wake of seven deaths recorded after a rock fall at Sibanye’s Carletonville plant on Thursday.

Six others are still recovering and this week’s events are not isolated.

Haunted by a 2015 blast that almost claimed his life, Phanuel Sithole’s role was to supervise loading and unloading of miners at the time.

The 34-year old alleges that a superior had ordered him to help release rocks to a lower level.

“First, I was not supposed to go there, second he was not supposed to put water ,so he didn’t apply safety first, what he wanted was to just get the stove or the mud to pass through, so that they could get it and send it to the plant.”

When the plan failed Sithole was on the other side of a steel gate.

“The blast happened and I was injured but if there was no door there I could have died, so the door came and hit me”

He sustained head injuries, his right arm was broken and his spinal cord badly affected.

Sithole regained consciousness the following day and was released from hospital after almost a month.

Three years on fresh fears emerge. This after the seismic event robbed him of his seven colleagues.

His family of six is concerned. And more outrage with the mine accused of putting profit before miners’ safety.

SACP deputy secretary Solly Mapaila says:”They can’t continue to put the lives of mineworkers in danger, if they are unable to do so the government must give that operating licences to another mining company that can actually protect workers, the life of workers is extremely important.”

Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says, “The management of mines must never chase profit and production, a mining company has the responsibility to provide a safe work place, that cannot be transferred, cannot be outsourced.”

Sibanye Mine spokesperson James Wellstead says, “The safety of our workers is paramount, and in terms of legislation, workers have a right not to enter an area that’s not safe, but what we would like the unions to do is not continue blaming management all the time, we would like them to work together with us and the regulators to try and avoid these incidents.”

As unions gear up for protest action, Sithole and 65 000 other employees, are hoping there will be improved safety standards at the gold mine.

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