Worker killed at Harmony's Joel mine in the Free State
The company said all relevant authorities, family members and colleagues had been informed. It said it was devastated by another loss of life.
'Our safety strategy and culture include both systemic and humanistic factors and controls. These controls are designed to avoid incidents, protect our employees and have to be adhered to at all times. No working area will be accessed unless it has been declared safe,' said Beyers Nel, Harmony CEO.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said this was the 11th fatality at Harmony this year, bringing the total fatalities in the South African mining industry to 25.
'Eleven fatalities point directly to the company's failure to provide conditions that are safe for the operation to take place,' Amcu said.
The union added that if Harmony dodges analysing organisational failures and blames the deaths on the behaviour of employees, it is likely they will experience more injuries and disasters.
Harmony said Thursday has been declared a day of safety across all Harmony's South African operations to engage with the company's employees and stakeholders and to reflect on the company's safety practices at each of its mines.
'Our day of safety is not simply a pause, it is a call to action,' said Nel.
TimesLIVE
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
22 minutes ago
- The Herald
Killer Nkuna charged again with Hillary Gardee's murder
Serial killer Hlabirwa Rassie Nkuna, against whom charges of murdering EFF deputy- president Godrich Gardee's daughter Hillary were dropped, will now go on trial for the killing. Nkuna is accused of killing Gardee, 28, in 2022. Charges against Nkuna and three others were provisionally withdrawn in the Mpumalanga High Court in April 2023. The state prosecutor said at the time the trial could not go ahead because three key witnesses, including a sangoma who claimed one of the accused in the murder case had consulted him for cleansing, could not be traced. Mpumalanga NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa on Monday confirmed to Sowetan that Nkuna had been charged with Gardee's murder again. 'Nkuna appeared in separate courts today [Monday] in the Nelspruit magistrate's court. He first appeared in the district court where he is charged with possession of a firearm. I don't have background information [on this matter]. 'He then appeared again in the regional court for the murder of [Godrich] Gardee's daughter. That matter is postponed to October for trial in the high court,' said Nyuswa. She had not, at the time of going to print, responded to further questions about whether the state had been able to trace the witnesses or if there was new evidence in the case.
The Herald
22 minutes ago
- The Herald
Inspection in loco takes centre stage in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial
An inspection in loco at a municipal building in Vosloorus became a focal point in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on Tuesday. One of the five accused, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, led the court to the spot where he was allegedly assaulted by officials. The lead investigator in the matter, who is also accused of the assault, Brig Bongani Gininda, also participated in the inspection. The inspection took place on July 4 after it was requested by Sibiya's lawyer, advocate Charles Mnisi. Sibiya demonstrated to the court how he was allegedly assaulted by Gininda and other officers. Photos were taken during the site visit. On Tuesday, state prosecutor advocate George Baloyi officially placed the details of the inspection on record. Baloyi explained that court officials had to drive to the Gold Sports complex at the municipal offices in Vosloorus, which houses various offices, including the metro police offices. Sibiya had to show them where he was assaulted. 'Accused one mentioned that on May 30 2020 they came from Thembisa to the municipal offices and about seven vehicles parked in the open parking area of the premises,' Baloyi said. 'He was handcuffed from behind and a plastic bag was put on his face. He mentioned that Brig Gininda appeared and the other police officers who were with him moved to the parked motor vehicles and held a meeting. He mentioned that the municipal area is known as a gold spot and the police station is behind those premises and that he has passed by that place previously and is familiar with the surroundings,' he said. Baloyi said advocate Mnisi had explained that , one could not see what was happening at the spot pointed out by Sibiya as no-one was moving around at the time because it was during the Covid-19 lockdown. Sibiya had also mentioned that other officials, including members of the metro police, were present when he was assaulted. 'He is unable to say who assaulted him and how he was assaulted as his face was covered in plastic. He said about 14 police officers participated in the assault. Some were in uniform, some in civilian clothes and some were metro police officers. On June 5 2020, the cars came through the same municipality gate and parked at more or less the same spot.' Sibiya said he was placed at more or less the same spot as on May 30 2020. 'He was made to sit and he was handcuffed from behind but no leg irons. A plastic bag was put on him and he was assaulted by about 10 or fewer police officers. There were not that many. Thereafter, they left for Alberton,' said Baloyi. Baloyi said Gininda disputed that it was the place where they were and asked that a note be taken of the fact that there is only one entrance and exit to the municipal premises. He explained that the court and the police station are divided by a wall, but there is no wall or fence to the parking area in front of the police station. On arrival at the parking area at Vosloorus police station, Baloyi said Gininda had pointed out where he met Sibiya in a red VW Golf. 'Brig Gininda mentioned that there is a motor vehicle entrance next to the pedestrian entrance. He also mentioned that the late Sgt Mabena's vehicle was also there,' he said. Gininda said he had not seen Sibiya on June 5 2020 and only saw him on May 30 this year. The trial continues on Wednesday. TimesLIVE
The Herald
22 minutes ago
- The Herald
Stellantis to launch Leapmotor EVs in South Africa later this year
Stellantis plans to sell Chinese-branded electric vehicles (EVs) developed by its partner Leapmotor in South Africa starting with the C10 from September, the company said on Tuesday. The C10 is an electric SUV with a petrol engine used only to charge the battery. More Leapmotor models are expected to be launched next year, including fully electric models, said Mike Whitfield, MD of Stellantis South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Leapmotor created waves with its recent rollout of the all-electric B10 SUV equipped with smart-driving features and lidar sensing technology for less than $18,000 (R 316,865) . In Stellantis bought a 21% stake in Leapmotor for $1.6bn (R28.17bn). The two carmakers also formed the joint venture Leapmotor International, in which Stellantis holds a 51% stake. Leapmotor will help the world's fourth largest carmaker widen its range of affordable EVs, as it presses ahead with electrification while other Chinese carmakers including BYD and Chery Auto are aggressively expanding into Africa. 'South Africa is a critical market for Stellantis and we are committed to unlocking its potential through product, innovation and meaningful partnerships,' Whitfield said. Stellantis, which entered the South African market four years ago, is building a new plant in the country with a maximum capacity of 100,000 vehicles by 2030. It plans to become the No 1 player in the Middle East and Africa region with 1-million vehicles sold by 2030, with 35% expected to be electric. In 2024 it sold 500,000 cars in the Middle East and Africa. With more than 60% of the South African market concentrated below the R400,000 price point, Stellantis's Citroën C3 range is gaining strong traction, with the upcoming C3 Basalt set to complete a competitive line-up in the accessible B-hatch and SUV segments early next year, Whitfield said. Stellantis will also launch the Citroën C3 Hola panel van, its entry into the growing commercial vehicle sector aimed at small business owners.
