The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has learnt with disgust the fact that Sibanye Gold mine is hiding an underground fire that is alleged to have been burning since April 13th until today.

What is also disturbing is the fact that the company has not informed the NUM leadership at the branch about this underground fire. The NUM at Cooke 1 operations has been observing that since the fire started on April 13, there has been different rescue teams going in and out of underground.

The NUM is extremely worried because Sibanye Gold management continues to treat this matter as their confidential information whereas it has a potential to dangerously affect workers that are sent underground daily without even briefing them and the union about the extent of the fire.

The behaviour of  Sibanye Gold is unacceptable and deplorable. They must stop gambling with workers lives.We call upon the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to instruct Sibanye Gold to do the right thing or workers will withdraw from going underground where there is a threat of fire in line with Section 23 of the mine health and safety act," said Erick Gcilitshana, NUM Health and Safety Secretary.

"Sibanye Gold is in breach of section 37 of the Mine health and Safety Act (MHSA) by not notifying the mine health and safety committee about this health threatening occurrence.We call upon the company to engage with union structures about this incidents and inform the workers of what is happening and what is their plan to avoid killing workers through this fire," Gcilitshana added

The NUM has witnessed at Impala platinum in 2016 where four workers lost their lives after they were sent underground whilst there was fire burning.

The NUM will not allow a situation where workers are sacrificed for profits.

Issued by NUM