SACP Mpumalanga calls for more investment on safety at the South African mines
10 February 2016
Today, Thursday the 10th February 2016 marks the sixth day since three workers, Solomon Nyarenda, Pretty Mabuza and Yvonne Mnisi have been trapped at Lilly Mine at Barberton.
While we are grateful that 70 mineworkers were rescued since the incident happened last Friday, we are saddened and fear for the lives of the three workers who are still trapped underground.
The South African Communist Party in Mpumalanga joins the working class in solidarity with the three mineworkers who are still trapped underground and condemn in strongest terms the unsafe working conditions that mineworkers in South Africa are exposed to.
This tragic incident should galvanise working class struggles in their demand to mining companies to invest more on mine safety to prevent fatalities in South African mines. One death is one too many.
The SACP also welcomes the decision by the Department of mineral resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, to close down operations at the mine, while the rescue operations are still continuing.
At this time of uncertainty, the SACP joins hands with the family in the hope that their loved ones would be rescued, and we salute the rescue teams that have been working throughout this time to save the lives of these workers.
Issued by SACP Mpumalanga, 10 February 2016
