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The South African Communist Party (SACP) is gravely concerned about the conditions facing three mineworkers who are trapped underground at Lily Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga Province. Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Mabuza and Solomon Nyarenda were working in a shipping container office when the entrance of the mine collapsed and the container fell into the ground and was covered by rocks 11 days ago.

The workers have not yet been rescued. Rescue operations were temporarily halted and remain suspended due to risky and unstable working environment, thus increasingly causing restlessness. The SACP expresses its message of sincere solidarity with the affected workers and their families, and will pay them a visit.

The SACP is calling for all efforts to be strengthened to rescue the workers as a matter of top priority and urgency.

A thoroughgoing probe into the accident and the health and safety conditions at the mine must be conducted once the rescue operations are concluded. 

The SACP reiterates its condemnation of mining companies that subject workers to work under unsafe and unhealthy working environments in pursuit of profit maximisation at the expense of human life. HUMAN LIFE MUST COME FIRST!!

The SACP further reiterates its call for increased investment in health and safety at the mines as a condition of production. Mining license conditionalities must be strengthened to ensure that operations are conducted only where the health and safety of workers are guaranteed and sacrosanct!!

Issued by SACP