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Johannesburg - Impala Platinum Holdings [JSE:IMP], the world’s second-largest producer of the precious metal, confirmed on Wednesday that it has been charged with culpable homicide following a fatality at one of its mines five years ago.
“The NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) has charged Impala with culpable homicide. Impala asked for particulars relating to the charge in September last year and is still awaiting the information,” the company said in response to emailed questions from Reuters.
“Impala denies any liability in the death of Mr Phetoka,” the company said, referring to Lesotho national Paulus Mosala Phetoka, the worker who died in the incident.
Implats said it was charged by the NPA in July last year but felt it was not necessary to tell shareholders because it had not received any details of the charge, nor had it been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Andrew Mitchell, a lawyer at Bell Dewar in Johannesburg, said that it was not unusual for the NPA to charge a corporation with culpable homicide but it was unusual for the charge to be laid in relation to a mine fatality.
He said the NPA could charge a chief executive with vicarious liability but it was more likely the company would end up paying a fine.
Implats has already had a rough year with a six-week strike at its Rustenburg operations which cost R2.4bn, and a public spat with Zimbabwe over handing over a 51% stake in its local unit Zimplats to the government.
Implats shares were unchanged at about R150 by late afternoon on Wednesday.
“The NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) has charged Impala with culpable homicide. Impala asked for particulars relating to the charge in September last year and is still awaiting the information,” the company said in response to emailed questions from Reuters.
“Impala denies any liability in the death of Mr Phetoka,” the company said, referring to Lesotho national Paulus Mosala Phetoka, the worker who died in the incident.
Implats said it was charged by the NPA in July last year but felt it was not necessary to tell shareholders because it had not received any details of the charge, nor had it been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Andrew Mitchell, a lawyer at Bell Dewar in Johannesburg, said that it was not unusual for the NPA to charge a corporation with culpable homicide but it was unusual for the charge to be laid in relation to a mine fatality.
He said the NPA could charge a chief executive with vicarious liability but it was more likely the company would end up paying a fine.
Implats has already had a rough year with a six-week strike at its Rustenburg operations which cost R2.4bn, and a public spat with Zimbabwe over handing over a 51% stake in its local unit Zimplats to the government.
Implats shares were unchanged at about R150 by late afternoon on Wednesday.
