SA mining recorded the lowest number of fatalities in the sector’s history last year, according to statistics released by mineral & petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe on Thursday.
The mining sector reported 42 deaths in 2024, a 24% year-on-year decline from the previous year and a record low. The previous record was 49 fatalities in 2022.
Injuries were down 16% to 1,841 from the previous year, while occupational diseases, such as silicosis, declined by 17% to 1,864. There were also no “disaster-type accidents”, in which five or more workers die in a single accident.
Mantashe expressed optimism and pride over the latest figures, saying the government was encouraged as mining sector efforts continued to show a sustainable downward trend in occupational diseases, injuries and fatalities.
He said authorities would “continue to strengthen the enforcement provisions, reinforce offences and penalties and remove ambiguity by amending certain definitions and expressions in the Mine Health and Safety Act”.
After emphasising the government’s “untiring commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of every mineworker”, Mantashe doubled down on his stance against illegal mining, saying: “As we release these statistics, we are conscious of the severity of illegal mining that has engulfed the SA mining industry. Our view on illegal mining remains unchanged. Illegal mining is a criminal activity and a war on the economy. There can be no two ways about it.”
He reiterated remarks made during his visit last week to the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, where the bodies of 78 illegal miners have been retrieved despite the government’s initial reluctance to fund a rescue mission. He said the illicit precious metal trade cost SA’s economy R60bn last year.
“The truth of the matter is that those that are involved in illegal mining, both the syndicates and the active illegal miners, have no regard for the health and safety of others, nor are they concerned about the laws that regulate the industry. They are in it for their own selfish gains and have no regard for the country,” he said.
Mantashe said the government would continue its fight against illegal mining through Operation Vala Umgodi, the project by the police to crack down on illegal mining nationwide.
“We wish to assure the nation that the state will not take responsibility for the reckless actions of illegal miners,” he said.
The Minerals Council SA said the latest figures were a continuation of an encouraging overall downward trend in mining fatalities. They reflected the collective commitment of the mineral resources & energy department, Minerals Council members and organised labour to achieve the goal of zero harm in the mining industry, it said.
The Minerals Council and Mantashe emphasised the critical role of stakeholder collaboration in making mining in SA safer, particularly through a tripartite commitment between the three entities.
“We reiterate that collaboration and the spirit of genuine tripartism should be our anchor going forward. Let us continue working together and share good practices to attain the goal of zero harm,” Mantashe said.
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