We meet here exactly two years after our last Mine Health and Safety Tripartite Summit, during which we assessed the state of the mining industry in terms of health and safety, and mapped out a path towards the attainment of Zero-Harm. Despite challenges, since our last meeting, the industry has recorded progress. In 2024 alone, the industry recorded 42 fatalities, marking the lowest fatalities in the history of South African mining. This record was further improved in 2025, with 41 fatalities.
Speaking Notes by the Honourable Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Mr Gwede Mantashe
Mine Health and Safety Summit
Emperor’s Palace Centre 17 September 2026
Programme Director,
Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Ms Phumzile Mgcina Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla
Leadership of Organised Business Leadership of Organised Labour, Professional Associations,
Representatives of various government Departments and State-Owned Entities Distinguished Guests,
We meet here exactly two years after our last Mine Health and Safety Tripartite Summit, during which we assessed the state of the mining industry in terms of health and safety, and mapped out a path towards the attainment of Zero-Harm.
Despite challenges, since our last meeting, the industry has recorded progress.
In 2024 alone, the industry recorded 42 fatalities, marking the lowest fatalities in the history of South African mining. This record was further improved in 2025, with 41 fatalities.
These figures represent a significant reduction from the historical 435 fatalities recorded during the Coalbrook disaster, 177 fatalities during the Kinross disaster, and 104 fatalities recorded at Vaal Reefs.
However, even as we acknowledge this progress, we must bear in mind that these are not merely numbers. These are lives lost in the line of duty.
These were breadwinners who left behind families to fend for themselves.
This can be better understood and appreciated if we analyse these fatalities across the various commodities.
The 2024 statistics indicate that the platinum sector recorded 18 fatalities, followed by gold with 12, coal with 6, chrome with 3, diamonds with 2, other mines with 1.
In 2025, gold was the largest contributor with 21 fatalities, followed by platinum with 11, chrome with 3, and coal with 2.
Regrettably, as of 14 September 2026, the industry had recorded 49 fatalities. Of these, 3 are classified as miscellaneous fatalities, referring to cases where the cause of death has not yet been determined.
We, therefore, urge the industry to expedite investigations into these fatalities and ensure the timely finalisation of the causes of death.
Establishing the circumstances surrounding each fatality is essential to strengthening preventative measures and advancing our collective commitment to Zero-Harm.
By 14 September this year, the platinum sector accounted for 18 fatalities, followed by gold with 17, and diamonds with 5.
In essence, platinum and gold collectively account for more than 70% of all fatalities recorded in 2026 alone, demonstrating the continued concentration of fatal risks within these two sectors.
This brings into question: with the prices of gold and platinum doing well, could it be that mine owners are chasing profits at the expense of health and safety?
We submit to this summit that the industry cannot put profits above the health and safety of workers.
The industry must respect workers, because it is the workers who convert investments into wealth.
An inherent risk to workers today that we need to address is contract work, which is a manifestation of exploitation and unemployment.
Statistics show a correlation between the increase of contract workers in the mines and the increase in fatalities.
This summit must discuss this issue and come up with recommendations on how best to resolve it.
We cannot allow workers to be exploited perpetually simply because they are employed as contract workers.
Every worker deserves fair treatment, decent working conditions, and protection from exploitation.
It is the duty of all of us in this room, and of the entire industry, to ensure that the rights of workers are upheld, irrespective of the nature of their employment.
Another emerging challenge that this industry must address is the issue of
mineworkers who lose their lives while commuting to and from work.
In our statistics, we do not record these as mine fatalities, even though the victims are mineworkers.
Previously, mineworkers stayed in hostels and did not have to travel long distances by road to get to work.
We did away with that system, and now many mineworkers are losing their lives on the roads.
This summit must help us find solutions to this problem.
An equally important issue for this summit to address is the conduct of mine owners who after an accident has occurred at their operations, they file for liquidation in an attempt to shift responsibility.
A case in point is the Lily Mine and the Ekapa mine disaster, which claimed five lives, earlier this year.
To us, doing so amounts to acting in bad faith, and it must never be allowed.
In the case of Ekapa disaster, we insisted that the mine owners must retrieve the bodies, which was done successfully.
We cannot allow a situation where mine owners extract minerals and derive value, but when disaster strikes, they run for cover and expect government to take responsibility.
It is within this context that we maintain that the owners of the Lily Mine must take responsibility of retrieving the container and the bodies, so that the affected families can find closure.
These issues remain a concern to us and underscore the need for sustained and comprehensive health and safety measures in South African mines.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including mental health disorder, remain a major cause of medical incapacity and fatalities in the industry. If we are to improve the health and safety of mineworkers and achieve our goal of Zero-Harm, we must work together to address these challenges, promote a culture of health and wellness, and ensure that workers receive the necessary support and care.
This summit must, therefore, move beyond a mere assessment of progress against the milestones adopted in previous summits.
We must move towards a clear programme of action that will take us to zero harm.
If we are to attain this goal, workers must also take responsibility for their own health and safety.
The Mine He
alth and Safety Act (MHSA) gives every mineworker a legal
right to leave, or refuse to enter, a dangerous working place.
This right applies to every mineworker, whether a full-time or contract worker.
It is your right. Exercise it. Do so for your own health and safety.
Let us not use this summit for blame games. This is not the time for blame one another for our shortcomings.
Let us use this summit to recommit ourselves to strengthening health and safety at our mines.
This places a greater responsibility on each one of us in this room to agree on focused and implementable actions, with clearly defined outcomes, responsibilities, timelines, and reporting mechanisms.
These mechanisms will enable us to monitor progress and intervene where implementation is inadequate.
As government, we recommit to working with all social partners – business, labour, and communities – to enforce health and safety at our mines.
I thank you.