Issued by: Ministry of Minerals and Energy
26 November 1999
Mr. Chairman/Master of Ceremonies
Distinguished Leaders of The South African Mining Industry
Esteemed guests
Members of the press
And a special welcome to all those who are employed in our
Mines and Industry as well as their families
Ladies and Gentlemen.
A hearty welcome to you all to this very special occasion. It is the opening of a very important event in our Industry - The Mine Health and Safety Expo 1999. It is also an opportunity for us to discuss some very important issues which have a great impact on our industry and our country. Ladies and Gentlemen the issue is about AIDS. More about that later.
In the Mining Industry we are used to the hard technical or mechanical vocabulary and the hard reality of the physical labour of miners performing their duties.
It is agreed that the industry must aim for maximum production efficiency.
But it is also our expectation that the industry must progress with minimum or no accidents or deaths. We have sleepless nights over the increasing spate of accidents that we have experience recently. It is true and I agree that the general picture presented by statistics is that the numbers are declining. But is nonetheless worrying why the curve of the graph should now pig. We are asking ourselves why it is that these accidents should be happening?
Hundreds of meetings are held and we establish statutory committees to handle all aspects of mining. We create Acts and Regulations regarding the safety and health of employees, we enforce the law by acting against those who do not comply. But the safety and health of our people is still a real concern.- to keep them healthy and safe as far as their lives their careers and their health is concerned.
We need to safeguard our working environment. Too many people lose their lives in unnecessary accidents. Too may accidents take place, too many people get disabled in this industry. Too many families lose a breadwinner. Too many children lose opportunities.
Today we are gathered here precisely to find answers to these agonising questions. The Mine Health and Safety EXPO is a valiant brave exciting and wonderful attempt by the Industry to show us what measures and creative ideas and innovations we can come up with in our attempt to find solutions to the vexing problem of Mine Health and Safety.
At this point I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Industry for such a magnificent show. I have well truly been impressed by the exhibition. I would also like to extend my heart-felt congratulations to the Mine Health and Safety Branch for co-ordinating this unforgettable event. I salute the Labour Movement, for its involvement and commitment to the work of the Department as carried out in the Tri-partite Alliance.
Business also deserves a special recognition for the spirit of co-operation and willingness to be partners in this struggle for a superior quality of life for our people who have dedicated themselves to working on the Mines and thereby contributing to the economic growth of our beloved country.
All of you from whichever sector you come, I congratulate you for such a successful event.
Earlier on I indicated that we need to talk about the problem of AIDS in this country. AIDS is not only a matter of concern for only the Mines. It is a matter of concern for the world. We are a part of the world; We are the global community; and so if AIDS is destroying the world AIDS is also destroying our people in Africa. 38 million people have been infected by AIDS in the world. 15 million in the world have died. In our country South Africa, 1600 people are infected daily.
Returning to the issue of AIDS in the mines, the migrant labour system is one of the contributing factors to the spread of the disease. Indications show that 45% of South African Mine Workers are HIV positive. The situation is further compounded by the incidence or the prevalence of tuberculosis.
Now, I would like to ask all of you present. What do we do about HIV/AIDS in our Industry.
One school of opinion says we can do nothing since AIDS is not a notifiable disease. We conveniently tell ourselves we can do nothing because the law says we should protect the uninalienable right of people to their privacy, and also that it is not occupation related. In short, what we are saying is that we do not want to get involved in dealing with this. We are afraid because there is an enormous financial impact regarding the treatment and counseling of the disease. We also do not want to get involved because of all the myths around AIDS.
The facts are: We, are a developing country with all its opportunities and all its valuable resources. We are faced with a problem that we will not be able to handle and I get the impression that no-one realises the financial economic and human resource impact thereof.
The impact of this might not be of any concern at present, but this might be of major concern within a short period of time.
We will experience a situation in which the productive population will not have the physical energy and/or ability to perform their daily tasks. They will soon have to leave work go home and die. Of even greater importance is the fact that the country stands to lose valuable foreign currency and investments if there are nolonger any people to work.
The time has come to take action and take hands in the prevention of this disease.
That is why the Ministry and the Department have today taken the opportunity to join hands with the organisers of this Mine Health and Safety EXPO to launch our AIDS programme.
As the Mining Industry attracts workers from all over our continent, the epidemic gets driven and have far reached consequences. Workers get infected and return home to their families, and they take the deadly virus with them, infecting their love ones.
Ladies and Gentlemen the HIV/AIDS epidemic poses a challenge to the development of South Africa. I would like to declare that the Department of Minerals and Energy support all HIV prevention programmes as well as programmes aimed at the reduction of discrimination against those infected.
We hope that the excellent presentation of the Industrial Theatre who were presenting this excellent performance today, brought a new awareness upon each and every one of you present today.
I would also like to challenge all Mines to participate in the prevention of AIDS and set up programmes to establish save sex in our Mines.
In response the Department has been pro-active and prepared a community education programme that will benefit not only the mine workers but their families and surrounding communities as well. Our mine Medical Inspectors will try to encourage sex workers to engage in safe sex practices.
We will be training HIV/AIDS Counselors and Educators to go to the communities, the schools, the clinics, the hospitals, the community recreation centres to talk to people and counsel them about AIDS.
Finally, I as Minister responsible for AIDS Education in my Department have agreed to make myself available for the SABC AIDS Telethon on Saturday December 4. My call is that all Industry sectors should support us as we raise funds for this very special event which will go towards the President's AIDS Trust.
Ladies and Gentlemen enjoy the day at the EXPO and I thank you.
Have a nice day!