Implats mining accident death toll rises to 13, memorial service to be held

Impala Platinum’s mine near Rustenburg.

• The death toll for the mining accident that occurred in Rustenburg last week has risen to 13.
• At least eight victims are still in a critical condition.
• Implats has set aside Wednesday as a day of remembrance for its employees.

The death toll for last week’s mining accident in Rustenburg has increased after a mine employee died in hospital over the weekend.

The death toll now stands at 13.

Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) said the employee died on Sunday.

“Implats has offered its condolences to and remains in close contact with his family,” it said in a statement.

As of Monday, 23 employees had been discharged from the hospital. Of the 50 employees who remain in the hospital, eight are in critical care, according to Implats.

“In collaboration with the families of affected employees, Implats has set aside Wednesday as a day of remembrance for our employees, who have all been impacted by this tragic event. A memorial service will be held at Impala Rustenburg to allow for our employees to come together to honour the memory of our lost, injured and affected colleagues,” it said in the statement.

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Implats added that it would release the names of the victims on the day of the memorial service.   

News24 previously reported that there had been a “serious safety incident” with the winder rope at the mine’s 11 Shaft operation. The rope is connected to the personnel conveyance, which hoists employees up and down the shaft.

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It appeared that the conveyance was hoisting employees to the surface at the end of their shift when the counterweight became trapped by the jack catches. The conveyance had been carrying 86 employees at the time.

Eleven people had been declared dead at the scene.

Minerals Council South Africa said that, before the Implats accident, the industry had recorded 41 fatalities for the year, compared to 44 in the previous year.