The mysterious death of a mineworker at Impala mine in Rustenburg, North West, still has tongues wagging as his co-workers learned that they had to return to work the next day, working the entire day without spotting a body lying next to them.
It wasn’t until Tuesday night that they were advised to cease working because one of their co-workers had died.
Workers believe he was killed by a rock, but mine management was quick to dismiss this theory, stating that he died within the mine but not due to a rock fall.
Impala Platinum Mine Spokesperson,Johan Theron, has confirmed the fatal incident but said it is definitely not a result of a rock falling on him.
“Regrettably, I can confirm a fatal incident reported at our number 16 Shaft this week.
“The incident is still being investigated with the assistance of the Department of Minerals, Resource, and Energy, unions, and external safety experts. It is definitely not a result of rocks falling on him.
“The family is our primary consideration at this time and ensuring we uncover all the relevant circumstances that resulted in this tragic turn of events, such that any future reoccurrence can be prevented,” said Theron.
At the end of March this year, Impala released a statement saying the Section 54 safety stoppage at 16 Shaft, which followed a fatality in end-November 2021, was lifted in mid-January, and total production was restored by end-February 2022.
The Section 54 safety stoppage at 6 Shaft, following three fatalities in a mud inundation at the bottom of the shaft in end-November 2021, was lifted in early March 2022, with total production expected during April 2022.