EFF Statement on the death of 8 miners

06 February, 2014

Economic Freedom Fighters receives the news of the brutal death of 8 mine workers who were trapped in a fire 1700 meters (1, 7km) down the belly of the earth, with great sadness, including the fact that one is still missing underground. EFF sends its revolutionary condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and comrades of the 8 workers.

EFF calls on the department of Mineral Resources to initiate an immediate investigation into the causes of the incident, particularly negligence on the part of Harmony Gold, Doornkop Mine. Harmony must be asked what measures have they put in place to find out and pre-empt if there will be a tragedy should they send workers down the earth. This must be done, taking into consideration that mining, rock drilling in particular, is in the first place a life risky affair and that the mining of gold has proven to be even riskier in South Africa for many years now.

For some time now, the mining bosses have acted with impunity daily under the protection of the ANC government which has decidedly taken the side their side against the people. They still operate within murderous mining policies and practices that are based on racism and violence to ensure maximum profits extraction out of our people. This is another important reason why they should be dispossessed of running so important an operation which puts the lives of people in danger every day.

EFF puts the responsibility for the death of these mine workers squarely on the doorstep of the ANC government and the mining bosses it serves. These deaths like many in the mining industry are preventable and therefore should be seen not as accidents but murder for profits. EFF reiterates the call for an urgent improvement of working conditions in the mining sector as a whole with the view to give workers a living wage of R12, 500.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, January 6 2014

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