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Sonjica slams justice dept

Cape Town - Minerals and energy minister Buyelwa Sonjica has blamed the department of justice for its failure to prosecute those accused of negligently causing mining accidents. She suggested that a mine safety tribunal might be necessary.

Asked at a media briefing on Thursday about the mineworkers' strike on the issue of mine safety, the minister said her department was tackling the problem, and though South Africa was accused of having a very poor record of mine safety, she said the main reason for this was that "we have the deepest mines in the world".

But she added that after every accident there was an investigation and if anyone could be found to be at fault, a report was given to the criminal justice authorities to prosecute.

"The biggest problem we have," she said, "is to charge people.

We investigate and hand the details to the department of justice, but because they have capacity limitations they are unable to complete the process.

"Maybe we need a tribunal," she said.

- I-Net Bridge

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