Johannesburg - More than 10 000 members of the National
Union of Mineworkers on Tuesday observed a day of mourning at Gold Fields’
Driefontein mine in Carletonville‚ in honour of five miners who died last week.
Erick Gcilitshana‚ the Num's national secretary for health
and safety‚ urged members to attend the event in an effort to highlight safety
matters in mines.
“We strongly encourage our members to pitch up in huge
numbers and not to take the day off as just another shopping day. We need to
send a very strong message on the safety front‚” Gcilitshana said.
Sven Lunsche‚ corporate affairs manager at Gold Fields
[JSE:GFI]‚ said the gathering had the support of the company.
“We proving the facilities for this gathering and we fully
support it. We are confident it will be peaceful.
“Gold Fields accepts that there won’t be production today
and urges all workers to attend.”
Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu‚ Num president
Senzeni Zokwana and Num general secretary Frans Baleni are expected to address
the workers.
The event has been scheduled to begin at 09h00 at the
Driefontein Arena‚ at the Driefontein mine in Carletonville.
Meanwhile‚ the Num said the proto team had failed to
extinguish the fire on the 36/31 line as it had jumped onto the 35 level of the
mine.
The five deaths caused by the fire were due to smoke
inhalation.