THIS is the “darkest day in the company”.
These are the words of emotional Impala Platinum CEO Nico Muller, following the deaths 11 workers and 75 injured on Tuesday.
As a result the operations at the mining complex had to suspended.
Muller said this was “the darkest day” in the company’s history.
Impala said in a statement that workers were being brought to the surface at the end of their shift on Monday when the conveyance system that carries workers up and down an underground shaft 1,000 meters (3,281 ft) deep started a rapid descent.
The Johannesburg-based platinum miner said 86 workers were involved in the incident at its No. 11 shaft. The injured were admitted to four hospitals in the area, and a company spokesperson said medical physicians had classified 14 workers in the hospital as “high priority”.
“Today is the darkest day in the history of Impala and our hearts are heavy for the lives lost and the individuals affected by this devastating incident,” the CEO said in a statement.
Minerals and Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe also sent message of condolences to affected families and described the situation a “disaster” as the number of deaths went from 5 to 11.
“An investigation has to lead us to understand how, with a positive signal on the safety systems, you still have an incident where a conveyance starts gravitating to the bottom and then gets into uncontrollable descent,” Muller said.
A senior investigative representative said investigations will take three-months or more, since some of the affected members are still hospitalised, and they’ll have to recuperate.
Minerals Council SA CEO- Mzila Mthenjane says they’re saddened on what happened and will offer support were necessary.
“We shall await the investigations since this is a complex matter” he said.
NUM and other labour unions have called for speedy but thorough probe.
