Miner killed by rock at Arnot
A miner was killed in a rockfall at Arnot Colliery on Saturday 05 July 2014, spurring NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) to call on the department of mineral resources to investigate the circumstances which led to the unfortunate incident.
The mine belongs to Exxaro, who is widely lauded for their ardent safety measures on site.
According to an insider the miner was killed instantly in the rockfall when a heavy boulder landed on his chest. He was busy underground at around 11:00 when the accident occurred.
NUM health and safety secretary, Mr Erick Gcilitshana, expressed the union’s condolences to the family of the miner, who was one of their members.
The union called on the department of mineral resources “to leave no stone unturned,” in the consequent investigation into the incident.
In his statement, Mr Gcilitshana, called on mines to invest more in worker’s safety than focusing on profit.
In another statement following the accident, Exxaro said that “a preliminary investigation showed that Solomon Latebotse Mashigo was fatally injured after being struck by a piece of rock during the operation of continuous miner equipment. Together with the Department of Mineral Resources, a full investigation will take place”.
The fatality follows Exxaro’s achievement in 2013 of its first full year without any fatality.
“On behalf of management and employees at Exxaro, I extend sincere condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of Mr Mashigo,” said Sipho Nkosi, Exxaro’s chief executive officer.
