M&R 'didn't report death'

Johannesburg - The failure by mining companies to work with labour unions was fuelling the safety crisis in mines, labour union Solidarity said on Monday.

It said this following failure by construction company Murray and Roberts Cementation to inform it of the death of a miner at a Rustenburg mine last week.

"We find it very concerning that Murray and Roberts failed to report this incident as agreed only three months ago.

"Safety should be every employer's highest priority," Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said.

The two parties agreed that Murray and Roberts should inform the labour union whenever there were incidents so that the labour inspector could investigate incidents immediately after they had happened.

But Kleynhans said Murray and Roberts had twice reneged on the promise.

"A compliance order was served on Murray and Roberts in August after representatives from Solidarity had pointed out extremely unsafe conditions at the mine. It is extremely important that these cases are reported to us."

He said safety in mines would only improve if all the role players "put all their cards on the table and started working together".

The miner in question died on Friday after sustaining serious head injuries in an underground rock fall in Impala Shaft 20.

Hid death brought to 155 the number of people killed in South African mines this year.

Kleynhans said the union would take up the matter with Murray and Roberts.

The company could not immediately be reached for comment.

- Sapa