NUM calls for temporary closure of mines
Marula Platinum Mine recorded 19 cases of coronavirus in a space of 24 hours.
BURGERSFORT – The National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) in the North East Region is calling for temporary closure of all the mines in the province on a 100 per cent pay to workers.
This is after two mines around Burgersfort registered a big number of Covid-19 positive cases in one week.
Marula Platinum Mine recorded 19 cases of coronavirus in a space of 24 hours.
“Just when we thought the dust is setting we have learned with a serious shock that another mine in Steelpoort Dwarsrivier Chrome Mine (DCM) has 30 confirmed positive cases of Covid-19,” revealed the union in a media statement.
The NUM’s Phillip Mankge said the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) instructed DCM to test all its employees.
“When the results are coming, we start to realise how bad is the gravity of this on the ground,” added the NUM North East Regional Secretary.
READ: Modikwa records first Covid-19 case
The NUM also called for Limpopo authorities to review the state of Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality ( FTLM) quickly and to take the municipality back to level 5 of lockdown, especially around issues that affect movements and social distancing.
The union said they also received disturbing reports that Modikwa Platinum Mine has also registered a confirmed case of Covid-19 on May 18.
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“Modikwa is the only mine in the eastern belt which is still using the biometric system and a mounted breathalyzer system which the Department of Health and the NUM raised concern over it but the company refused to remove it, through the assistance of DMRE inspectors who visited the mine earlier this month,” alleged Mankge.
He added, “It is our belief that should the mines listened to the advice from the unions when we were calling for regulation 11.k (a) which talks about rigorous screening and testing and regulation (d) which talks about employers to provide transport to employees from their areas of residents to work.
“The NUM is not in favour of the blanket approach that has been granted by the Minister of DMRE Gwede Mantashe. We argue that each mine should have been given a directive to put measures first and later granted permission when all measures are in place,” said Mankge.
The union further called on the law enforcement agencies to arrest mine managers who are deliberately ignoring Covid-19 regulations.
